"Is that shit-stain, Gollum, still following us?"
Aéd and Boromir turned their heads to look at the speaker.
Titus, who still hadn't worn his helmet, went to stand beside them and watch as a log drift by the river. They could see the faint traces of Gollum's fingers and eyes as the creature tried to hide itself from their view.
Aragorn joined them and said "I thought we would have lost him in the river, but he's too clever of a waterman."
Aragorn walked away but was followed by Boromir. Titus knew where this was going and decided to ignore them and gaze at the stars.
"Have you ever wondered what's happening on our world right now? Has the war devastated the lands yet? Probably. Have our factions made peace yet? Are the apples right for the picking this time around?"
Aéd looked at his reflection on the water before responding
"Most of the time. But I do not let it deter my focus. We must destroy this ring and it's master. Then, we find a way home."
Titus looked at Aéd, his expression serious.
"But how? We know nothing of this world and sorcery. When the ring is destroyed, how will we get back?"
"I don't care how, but I will find a way back. No matter what it takes."
Titus nodded and sighed "Our chances are slim, Aéd. But you're right. We are finding a way home, no matter what."
Aéd nodded and went back to keeping an eye on Gollum.
Titus patted Aéd's back bid him goodnight.
"Goodnight, my friend. We got a lot of rowing to do tomorrow."
~Line Break~
Something wasn't right. Someone was missing.
Aéd looked at the Fellowship and saw two missing faces.
He turned his head and spotted Boromir's discarded shield leaning on a tree.
He nodded at Titus and Rin, who also came to the same conclusion.
The three of them grabbed their weapons and ran in search of their missing companions.
They saw Boromir kneeling on the ground. Aéd grabbed the man by the shoulders and pinned him to a tree.
"What did you fucking do?"
Boromir's expression was that of a broken man.
"I failed. I let myself be manipulated by the ring. I drove Frodo away."
"Where is he?"
"I don't where. He used the ring and vanished into thin air. I failed him. I failed everyone."
The group was interrupted when they heard the sounds of blades clashing and sets of loud roars.
Aéd grabbed the Gondorian Captain's sword and pressed it on the man's chest. Titus, who had grabbed the Gondorian's shield, returned to it's owner.
"Then help us."
Boromir grasped his sword and shield before nodding. The four warriors ran to the sounds of battle to see Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli fighting dark armored creatures on a stone structure. Their enemies were like orcs but bigger, with different armors and weapons. A white handprint was on their armors.
The group charged in without hesitation. Cutting down the beasts and helped their friends pushed them back.
Aragorn looked at the new arrivals "Where are Merry and Pippin?"
At this, Boromir was alarmed and ran to look for the two. Aéd sighed and followed after the man. The rest of them were about to follow, only to be stopped by more of the beasts.
Titus kicked one on the side of it's leg and forced it to kneel before cutting off it's head. He backhanded another Uruk, then followed it with a swing to the neck and another back before punching the Uruk's head off.
"What are these things?" He asked.
"Uruk-hai. Bigger than any normal orc and they do not fear the light." Aragorn replied as he ducked from a swing and beheaded his opponent.
Rin was a whirlwind of blades as she dodge cut and stab the Uruks that got close.
"Yeah, we can see that." She said. Her voice dripping with sarcasm as she stabbed an Uruk without a helmet in the eye and raised her other katana just in time for an Uruk to impale itself on her blade.
"Yet they still charge in, like a mindless beast."
After what seemed like forever, the Uruks stopped their assault and ran in the direction where Aéd and Boromir went.
"This is bad." Titus muttered under his breath. "After them!"
The five ran after the Uruks, killing anything that decided to stop them. It wasn't long before they saw Aéd take an arrow for Boromir. The Highlander grunted as the arrow hit his back.
Dodging a second arrow, he ran towards the Uruk with a white hand print on it's face. He pushed or kicked away any Uruk that got too close. He shrugged off the third arrow that hit him on the shoulder before dashing towards the Uruk, his Claymore raised high above his head before slamming it down on the Uruk's head, right in the middle. He pulled the blade off to his the Uruk's head split like a watermelon.
He turned to his companions and shook his head "We didn't get to the hobbits in time. They separated us from the hobbits before taking the two. Forgive me."
Legolas' eyes widened when he realized something.
"Frodo!" He exclaimed.
Everyone, except for Aragorn, widened their eyes and ran for the boats.
When they got there, one of the boats were missing.
Legolas turned around and looked Aragorn, who calmly walked to them, in the eye.
"You let him go." He stated.
At this Boromir looked at him with sadness in his eyes "Then you have done what I could not. I tried to take the ring from him."
"The ring is beyond our reach now." Aéd said as he pulled the arrow off his shoulder. Luckily, it didn't bury itself deep enough to cause serious damage.
"Forgive me. I did not see it. I have failed you all."
Aragorn brought a hand on the Gondorian's shoulder "No, Boromir. You have fought bravely. You have kept your honor by trying to save those hobbits."
"Yet I still failed." He said with despair in his eyes. He lowered his head and muttered "It is over. The world of men will fall and all will come to darkness... and my city to ruin."
"I do not know what strength is in my blood, but I swear to you I will not let the White City fall… nor our people fail!"
Boromir raised his head and looked at the Ranger, astonishment clear on his face.
"Our people? Our people?"
He brought a fist to his chest and with conviction in his voice, said "I will follow you my Brother... my Captain... my King."
Aragorn smiled and nodded "Thank you, my Brother."
"What about Frodo and Sam?" Rin asked.
Aragorn's lips turned into a thin line "Frodo's is no longer in our hands."
Titus heard someone sigh and saw Gimli sit on the edge of the docked boat.
"Then it has all been in vain! The Fellowship has failed."
Aragorn walked towards Gimli and put a hand on his shoulders. The rest of the remaining Fellowship gathered around them.
"Not if we hold true to each other." He said as he looked at the faces around them "We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death. Not while we have strength left."
Gimli's spirits seem to rise at that.
Aragorn turned to the others and said "Leave all that can be spared behind. We travel light." He had a fire in his eyes as he said the next words "Let's hunt some Orc."
Titus hit his left bracer with his Gladius. A bloodthirsty smile on his face.
"Gladly."
The seven warriors ran to the forest, with no intention of stopping or resting 'til they rescue their friends from the clutches of their enemy. This resolve has made them strong.