Disclaimer:

I do not own LOTR, Skyrim, Assassin's Creed, or any Disney Movies.

I do however own copies of the movies and games, along with my character Jessica.

Katie owns Tari, FIFA '10, GTA 4, and several bottles of liquor. (She recently turned 21, Happy Birthday too Katie!)

-INFO REGARDING THE STORY-

Sorry it has taken us so long to come out with Chapter 11, we knew how we wanted to end the story but getting it down on paper took a while. Our apologies in making you wait. There is still one chapter for The Fellowship of the Ring, and we will continue to write throughout the rest of the movies/books. Thank you for your patience.

~oooOOOooo~

Chapter 11:

Jessica's P.O.V.:

Finally, after spending a month with pompous Elves, we were leaving Lothlorien. Though I'm not sure I should be entirely happy about this considering what was to happen a few days from now. The boats that we'd be taking down the river were beautifully carved but looked like they were used more for decoration than actual sailing. I eyed the boats skeptically and silently hoped that neither Ka-Tari…or I got sea sick. Err..River sick?

Elves prepared for the departure of the Fellowship. Legolas was among them, shifting parcels into the boats.

"Hey Merry, hey Pippin," I sat beside the Hobbits, watching the Elves bustle around acting important. Since Frodo's outburst at the dinner table a week or so back, the Fellowship's overall reception of me had become less aggressive; aside from Boromir and Aragorn. The Hobbits and Dwarf had warmed up considerably since then, making the stay in Lorien pass by much faster.

"Wha'd up?" Pippin said, tossing up a peace sign.

I smiled, nudging his shoulder playfully. "Oh, you know, getting in their way."

Legolas smiled, placing a bundle of food supplies and weapons in a boat. "You'd be in the way more if you'd try to help."

Making a dramatic show of bringing my hand up to cover my heart as if in pain, I retorted. "You wound me Legolas, maybe you should be more careful or I might just take those knives and we'll play a little game called Dodge Ball…Err, well in this case Dodge Knife."

Giving me a weird look, Legolas handed two bundles to me. "I am beginning to wonder if the Lothlorien Elves were in their right state of mind when they decided to give you weapons. Tari I can understand, you however are…What's the phrase you use? Cray Cray?"

The Hobbits and I choked on our laughter; it was the first time the Elven Prince had used slang. Merry managed to sputter, "He does have a point!"

Mimicking the action once more, I looked to him with wide eyes. "Et tu, Merry?"

They laughed again, drawing the attention of the Fellowship. Attempting to redirect the three male's attention to something neutral, so the rest of the Fellowship didn't join in on their let's-make-fun-of-Jessi banter, I asked Legolas what the bundle of food was.

"Lembas!" He exclaimed, pulling out a loaf to show the three of us. "Elvish Way-bread. One small bite is enough to fill the stomach of a grown man." He laughed and proceeded to take a bite from the corner of the bread before tucking it back away and leaving.

Merry looked to Pippin curiously, "How many did you eat?"

"Four." The Hobbit smiled sheepishly at the two of us before burping loudly.

The three of us were laughing good-naturedly with Pippin still burping occasionally and Merry having a hiccup attack; apparently he'd eaten several loaves of Lembas as well.

"You two are ridiculous," I giggled, unwrapping the packs the Elf had handed me. The Hobbits leaned over my shoulders to get a closer look at the weapons as I drew them out. The first pack I opened carried two bracers, a vest with many loops along the front, and leather belt. Moving to open the second bundle, the Hobbits and I were momentarily distracted as a male elf placed a small bow and a quiver full of arrows at my feet. He was gone before I could thank him; having moved off to the boat Tari would be sharing with the Gimli and Legolas, and placed another bow set there along with a single bag, a large bag.

Pippin poked my side, drawing my attention back to the still unopened sack in my lap. Just to annoy him, I opened it in dramatic slow motion; inside were two metal shafts with simple rings attached to the ends on a string, a dozen small throwing knives, and a small hatchet. Setting the knives and axe aside, the Hobbits and I examined one of the shafts – at the bottom of it was a small revolving circle with the Elven rune for 'J' on it, the ring was made of bronze and had a small hole in which the string looped through, and the rod itself had two leather straps as if it were to be worn around the wrist. Out of curiosity, I tugged on the ring and out popped a blade. The tip of which stopped an inch from my face and made the Hobbits hop back in surprise.

I laughed, a bit of fangirl hysteria overtaking me for a moment as I tugged on the ring once more to withdraw the blade, strapped on both Hidden Blades – the rings placed on my middle fingers-, and slid the two bracers on over top. Feeling exceptionally badass, I jumped to my feet and kissed the Hobbits upon their cheeks before pulling them towards the gathered Elves. Tari was waving at us to join them and we quickly made our way away from the boats and toward the rest of the group. Elves approached each of us, holding a bundle of clothing in their hands.

"Never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people." Lord Celeborn flicked his fingers to indicate the cloaks that were being wrapped around our shoulders by other elves. "May these cloaks help shield you from unfriendly eyes."

Then Galadriel came to each of us, followed by one of her servants. She was handing out gifts to the Fellowship; a bow for Legolas, belts for Merry, Pippin, and Boromir, rope for Sam, a dagger for Aragorn, the light of a star for Frodo, and for Gimli three strands of the Elven Lady's hair. When Galadriel stood before Tari and me, she stared at us both for several moments and the events of Lothlorien played through my mind as the silence stretched. It had not been a happy time in the Wood and it was soon to become even darker.

"Jessica, daughter of Numenor, knowledge of the future has tainted your path," Lady Galadriel paused, lips tilting into a sad, knowing, smile. She knew what it was like, to know bits of the future and to be feared, misunderstood, by mortals anyway. "Do not allow the words of the less informed," I smirked at her use of the word informed, "Hold you back from what must come to pass, or what you must accomplish."

Turning to Tari, Galadriel continued, "and Tari, daughter of Mirkwood and of the Maiar, your heart is heavy, and your mind troubled. Our lessons may shield your mind, but in the end, you will have to decide whether to let go or attempt to save what may be lost."

Tari and Galadriel shared a look, their eyes shone with some intense emotion that I could not read. Arching a brow at my friend, which she did not see, I fidgeted as the gazes of the rest of the Fellowship rested on us. Galadriel had waited until they were once again busy loading the boats before taking small bundle from an elleth standing to the right of her. Within the wrapping was two necklaces; the chains shone a bright silver with a teardrop shaped stone that shimmered between mint green and indigo, the stone seemed almost luminous as the sun hit it.

Inclining my head towards the Lady, she slipped the chain over my head, and as Tari mimicked my actions I clasped the stone between my fingers to study it closer. "These necklaces hold a special power. These gems are of a rare kind in Middle-Earth, and they should be handled with great care." Galadriel's face lightened, "These stones will allow you to keep track of each other. When wearing the necklace, you will feel a pull of the direction the other is in."

Galadriel was then handed another pouch that one of the elleth's had been holding, "I think that in a world that still seems unfamiliar to you; having a piece of your past will make it easier to move on." Galadriel then placed the cloth pouch into Tari's hands. She turned to me, motioning to open it. With the pouch still cupped in her hands, I gently tugged on the strings and let the cloth covering fall.

"It's…a cross," she said, as I slid my hand across its surface.

"It's deeply pitted, tarnish." Brow furrowed, I gently stroked the cross again. "Maybe it's bronze?"

"No lasses, this cross is made o' gold. It jus' needs a bi' o' polishin'," spoke Gimli whom heard the 'bronze' comment while walking past; he then walked over to us and reached towards the cross. Gimli then held out one of his arms and, gently, began to polish part of the trinket. After a moment he lifted the cross into the gleaming light breaking through the branches of the Wood; the bottom half of it, though still dirty, gleamed brighter. With a grunt, Gimli returned the cross to Tari's hand.

She smiled gently at Gimli and thanked him, which the Dwarf acknowledged with a nod of his head before moving off.

My friend stared at what lay in her hands; it had been so long since either of us had seen something like this. I may not have been a Christian but the sight of the cross brought tears to my eyes. It was a little piece of home.

Katie/Tari's P.O.V.:

I stared at what laid in my hands; it had been so long since I had seen something like this. It pained me a little to see something that no longer existed in this world; for this cross symbolized something that back in our time was what many people lived by, including me. Tears began to fester in my eyes, but I held them in. Rewrapping the cross, I placed it in my bag and released an exhausted sigh.

After what happened in Moria, the voices I've heard since the journey began; my mind had been in constant conflict. Galadriel's voice entered into my thoughts once more, your heart is heavy, and your mind troubled. Our lessons may shield your mind, but in the end, you will have to decide whether to let go or attempt to save what may be lost.

I blinked my eyes and Legolas was standing in one of the canoes holding his hand out towards me, "My lady." Taking his hand, I stepped into the canoe, "You seem troubled…Is something bothering you?"

My face flushed a little, damn it; I have to lie. I can't let him know about our plans. "I'm okay; I've just had a lot on my mind lately with what has all recently been going on. Nothing to worry about," I was faking a smile for him, but I think he knew what I was trying to mask…the pain.

Closing my eyes, I listened as Legolas began to move the oar back and forth, the canoe pulling further and further away from the shores of Lorien and towards the river.

…I was still in Lorien, the leaves were slowly falling towards the forest floor and a breeze slithered its way through the trees. In my hand was a small white flower that was placed on my pack by my bed roll while I was gone. Holding the flower to my nose, a sweet aroma filled my head and I sighed.

"Do you like it?" A voice came from behind me, "The flower is unique to Lorien."

Turning around I saw Haldir, who was smiling. Quite a rarity. I held it to my nose again breathing in the flowers aroma, "Yes, I'm quite fond of it. It's so pure, almost sacred like."

Haldir moved closer to me, his hand reaching out to clasp the one that held the flower. "I thought you would appreciate the beauty of something as pure, and rare as the Dendrobium white orchid." He lifted my hand, breathing in the seductive aroma of the orchid. A soft sigh came from within him. Lifting his head, Haldir leveled his aquamarine gaze to my sage-green eyes, still holding my one hand in-between both of his, "Cormamin niuve tenna' ta elea lle au' Melamin."

I lifted my hand to his face, fingers sliding from the front to the back where my hand stayed. Staring into his eyes, I smiled and leaning towards him I placed my lips against his forehead and spoke as I pulled away from him, "Tenna' san', kwara sina ten' amin," reaching into a pocket that was sown into my tunic and I held something in my fist. Holding out my hand, I pressed the object into his palm, and wrapped my friends around his own. "Mani naa ta?" I smiled, "A'maelamin, oio naa eleallaa alasse'. Hold what I've given to you closely, for it is something I've had my entire life. Namaari."

Haldir opened his hand, "A ring?" The gold shone brightly in the sunlight that broke through the thick forest treetops. He looked up, but I was already gone…

I opened my eyes and we were no longer in the woods of Lorien, but were now moving down the river. Looking back towards the woods a single tear trailed from my eye to my chin; whipping it away I looked towards the direction we were headed and I began to think of what was set to come, my stomach was in a knot, I was afraid…

Jessica's P.O.V.:

Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily life is but a dream. We had been on the river for hours and, for the love of all that is and was holy, I was bored as hell. Sighing softly, I looked over to Tari, whom had been paired with Legolas and Gimli, the hair that had escaped her braids was blowing gently in the breeze. I wondered what she was thinking about; the cross, the journey ahead, her mother…men?

Tucking my bangs behind my ear, I lay my head upon Frodo's back. He, and everyone else in the Fellowship, seemed lost in thought, the paddles dipping into the river in a dull, monotone, rhythm. Oh right, they're remembering what happened in Lothlorien. This scene was one of my favorites in the first movie, the sort of calm before the storm. The last calm before the storm, and this shit isn't even that calm. The boat jostled as the current picked up, giving me a mini-heart attack and adding emphasis to my inner babble on 'calm'.

Though all may seem calm, I knew that we were all dealing with our own fears, anxieties. Frodo had bags under his eyes, making them appear slightly bruised. The other Hobbits, plus Aragorn, had developed ticks, when they weren't preoccupied with other things, their eyes would always search out Frodo and if they could not find him, you could literally see the panic mar their faces. Legolas and Gimli seemed more focused on the road ahead, and in keeping an eye on Boromir. The Gondorian was the root to the unease that had begun to eat away at the taller members of the Fellowship, myself and Tari included.

That is where most my anxieties lay; could I save him, was it fate, does fate exist, would the ring's hold on him continue if I could save him, was he fighting it, could he forgive me, and would it change the outcome? The stress had always been there but it hadn't begun to consume me until Lorien. It had started to take a toll on my health; sleep was evasive, nightmares plagued me when I did manage to sleep, food became bland, and my once toned body began to deteriorate. Tari as well, started to show signs of weakening. She added onto my growing list of concerns – was she thinking about her father, did she remember all of the plan, had Galadriel's teachings truly strengthened her mind, would it shield her from Sauron, and did she hate me for asking her to leave?

I had always wondered what it was like, for solders to go off to war not knowing what lay ahead. And now that I did, somewhat, I wished that I could go home and let someone else deal with it. Selfish. That is what I was.

"Hey Pocahontas!"

Huh? Looking around, my eyes landed on Tari. She was smiling goofily. "Pocahontas? Really?" Placing a hand over my heart in mock hurt, I called "racist!"

She gave me a look. "Jess, you're not Native American."

"Bu-what? Shenanigans, my dad is half-"

"But, those weren't your actual parents." She arched a brow, a sad smile replacing the goofy one.

Oh, right…Behind me, I could hear the shifting of Aragorn's clothing. An awkward aura filled the space between us. "R-right…Uhh, why did you say it then?"

"Oh! You remember that song she sings? The one when she steps into the water, with the otters, ya know? I can't remember how it starts!"

I laughed, a clutch your sides in pain laugh. "Oh..HA…Oh my god! That is the most random thing ever."

Her snort echoed across the river. "We're on a river though, reminded me of the movie."

Sam turned to look at us, a smile playing across his face. "Do you have it on your eye-pod?"

"Ipod, Sam, not eye-pod." Tari called to him.

"And no, I don't have it. Damn it."

"What's the song?" Frodo turned slowing, his voice soft and eyes watery.

Boromir pointed kept his eyes forward and expression stoic, while the rest of the Fellowship shifted their attention to the two of us.

Shaking my head and blushing in embarrassment, I softly began to sing. "What I love most about rivers is, you can't step in the same river twice –"

"That water's always changing, always flowing. But people, I guess, can't live like that, we all must pay a price –"

"To be safe, we lose our chance of ever knowing. What's around the river bend? Waiting just around the river bend."

Tari and I looked at each other, we laughed loudly before continuing the song. At times we sang separately and, at others, together. Merry and Pippin asked us to repeat the chorus, singing with us when they recognized the stanza.

"Remix!" I shouted, before convulsing in giggles.

She laughed loudly and began to beat box badly, very badly. The rest of the Fellowship looked as if they wanted to drown themselves in the river as we both began to sing. "I look once more, once more! Just around the river bend, once more, around the river bend. Beyond the shore, somewhere past the sea. The shore, beyond the shore! Why do all my d-d-dr-dreams extend, just around the r-r-r-river bend? Just around the river bend!" At this point Legolas had covered his ears, Gimli began humming to himself, and Aragorn's eye began to twitch. The Hobbits, on the other hand, were clapping and asking what 'remix' meant. With an agonizingly obvious I'm-trying-to-get-your-attention hacking cough from Tari, I looked to my best friend whom nodded her head towards Boromir. The man had turned a bright red color and was biting his lip; Tari once more caught my attention and signed that he had been laughing.

With a devilish smirk, Tari called out in a gravely tone. "Screamo version!" The Fellowship groaned, wailed, and cried out for their mothers as we began to scream the song.

It was only after we sang the first half of the song several times that we began to grow sick of it. Pausing for a moment, Tari inclined her head and let me finish the first half of the last verse. Once again the soft soprano of my voice drifted across the river. "Should I choose the smoothest curve, steady as the beating drum? Should I marry Kocoum?" Looking momentarily to Boromir, "Is all my dreaming at an end?"

Tari once more joined in, her alto adding a sorrowful ambiance. "Or do you still wait for me, Dream Giver. Just around the river…bend?"

Silence fell over the Fellowship, broken only by my tugging on the rings and the barely audible click of the knifes sliding out. "Oh come on!" Cried Tari, crossing her arms in mock jealousy, "they made you Hidden Blades? How do they even know about that?"

"I think they overheard us talking about Assassin's Creed," I called to her, letting the blades slide back into their shafts. "What did you get?"

"Just my bow – yes, I saw you have one too, a few weird looking daggers, and a staff thing." Holding up her 'staff thing', Tari examined it closely, running her fingers along the pole and tilting one end of it to her face to look down at it length wise.

"Try twisting it," Merry hollered, as Pippin nodded enthusiastically.

Following the Hobbit's instruction with a doubtful quirk of her brow, Tari held the shaft out in front of her and twisted. There was a feint popping sound, as the staff lengthened and blades shot out at either end. "Good thing I wasn't hold it up to my face when that happened," she exclaimed, making the rest of us laugh as she twisted the staff again and it returned once more to the unassuming pole. She then held up one the daggers, withdrawing it from its sheath.

An enthusiastic gasp escaped my lips, "that's an elven dagger from Skyrim!"

"What?" She examined the blade closer, realization dawning on her face, "holy poo, it is!"

Then it hit us; if someone had overheard us talking about Skyrim and Assassin's Creed, then maybe they knew about the plan – designated Operation S.T.D. (Save the Dumbass). With equally apprehensive looks to the Fellowship, Tari and I attempted to carry on the playful banter as if the realization hadn't hit us like a rampaging elephant.

"Sooo…" She said, posture stiff, "wanna spar when we reach land?"

Legolas shook his head, "there will be no sparing, you two are ridiculous when you spar. Shouting out obscenities, falling off of things, and attempting to reenact scenes from your 'videogames'."

"Ahh, but daaaad," we whined, sticking out lips out in a pout. It might have worked, our dear Elven Prince had a soft spot for Tari but Aragorn had to ruin the fun.

"Enough you two, there will be no rough housing tonight." Just then, we rounded a corner and saw a small island at the center of the river. "We will spend the night there," Aragorn said, angling the boat towards the slab of land.

Katie/Tari's P.O.V.:

Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli pulled the boats up onto the shore of the small island. Jessi and I offloaded the boats and laid out everyone's bedrolls, while Merry and Pippin made a small fire to cook supper - Merry had caught several fish and placed them in a medium sized pouch while we had been sailing down river. Jessi and I sat next to the fire, playing with the weapons the elves had loaded into the boats for us while we watched Merry and Pippin skin and gut the fish, cutting them into smaller pieces and tossing them into a metal pot that hung above the fire.

I could feel a darkness spreading through the fellowship. A great evil was lurking amongst us; most of it being drawn towards Boromir whom already was weakened by the lure of The Ring. Casting my eyes across the other side of the island was a large rock, close to the water, Boromir was standing with his back against it, eyes feverish, twitching at the very sound of the smallest noises; he'd finally been driven mad. Legolas' eyes slanting watching Boromir's every move. His gaze then turned towards the dark woods that surrounded the Anduin. Legolas' face became conflicted, scrunched. I knew of what he could sense, for I felt it as well, almost like someone…or something was watching us.

I heard a soft plop in the water behind where Boromir sat, I watched as he turned his back, grey eyes searching the silver-laden ripples of the Anduin. Aragorn took a puff from his pipe and softly spoke to Boromir who was still peering over the rock.

The bags under Frodo's eyes had darkened since I'd last seen them; The Ring was beginning to slowly drain the life out of the young Hobbit.

Sam stretched his arm out towards Frodo which held a plate with the fish Merry and Pippin had prepared and cooked, "Have some food Mr. Frodo."

Frodo's eyes glazed over, "No, Sam."

Sam pleaded to his friend, "You haven't eaten all day, and you're not sleeping either. Don't think I haven't noticed Mr. Frodo."

"I'm all right," there was a definite annoyed edge to Frodo's voice now.

Sam snapped at Frodo, "But you're not! I'm here to help you. I promised Gandalf that I would." That was the first time I had ever seen Sam upset; I knew that it wouldn't be the last time I would see it either.

Frodo sighed, "You can't help me, Sam…Not this time…Get some sleep."

Sam looked over to Jessi and I. We continued to eat our food, pretending that we didn't hear their argument. Raising my head slightly, I watched as Sam passed from behind me, his eyes tearing up as he walked to his bed roll. I placed a piece of fish in my mouth, chewing, directing my attention to where Boromir and Aragorn were now standing; their words were muffled but I could tell that there was tension between the two of them. Boromir grabbed a hold of Aragorn's arm, "You are afraid! All your life, you have hidden in the shadows!" Now THAT I could hear crisply and clearly, but I had no clue as to why Boromir was speaking that way towards Aragorn. I know that Jessi and I weren't the only ones to take notice, for I saw Frodo shifting from underneath his bedroll, and Gimli grunting and rolling over turning his back away from where Aragorn and Boromir stood.

Boromir glanced towards the fire where Jessi and I sat; his eyes mimicked the fire flickering in the night. He directed his attention back to Aragorn. He whispered so that we could not hear his words then let go of Aragorn's arm. Aragorn turned away, taking several steps towards the islands shore he spun back around, "I will not lead the Ring within a hundred leagues of your city." My now knew of what they had been arguing about, The Ring…I was still curious as to what Boromir saw in the Anduin.

I felt a nudge in my side and leaned closer to Jessi who spoke first, "That was awkward…"

"Indeed it was," as I twirled the Moonstone dangling from the silver necklace, "I wonder what Boromir was looking at."

Jessi shrugged her shoulders, her head tilted to side as if listening to something far off. There was an echo, a croaking voice calling out, "Gollum." If it hadn't been for my elven hearing I wouldn't have caught it. Startled, I looked to Jessi who was poking at the small serving of food she held. She had told me what lay ahead of my journey, once I left with Frodo and Sam, but didn't mention that Gollum was following us even now. Casting a worried look to the two Hobbits, I saw Frodo shift under the bedroll. I pointed my finger towards the restless Hobbit.

"He hasn't slept in days," my gaze shifted from the Hobbit to the fire, "or eaten. I'm beginning to worry about him. I'm not so sure I will be able to protect him Jessi. The Ring is quickly taking over him; I'm surprised that he has lasted this long and only just now showing the physical effects of the Rings power. Nor am I sure that I will be able to keep our secret…"

Jessi wrapped her arm around my shoulder gazing up towards the stars, "Nobody ever said it would be easy. The fate in the destruction of the Ring rests on our shoulders, we have no choice but to do what has been given to us," holding her Moonstone in her hand and mine in the other she spoke, "Even if there are leagues between us, there will be a part of us still together." Jessi wrapped her arms around me and hugged me for several moments before letting go.

I shifted my body a little, eyes heavy, a sickening feeling was rising into the pit of my stomach, "Jessi, do you remember the battle of Helms Deep?"

Uneasiness took over her face, amber eyes flashing. "Yes, I do." She let her hand rest on my knee, "Why do you ask?"

I sighed and let my shoulders fall into a slump, "I never had the knowledge of the battle before, but for some reason it has plagued my dreams since we had arrived in Lothlorien. Two scenarios constantly replay themselves; One has the elves not showing up during the battle, then another; Haldir and the Elves arriving in Helms Deep to honor the allegiance between Elves and Men," I cringed as I relived the dream, "I see images of the battle, arrows soaring in the air and into the masses of Orcs, an explosion and a flood of them swarming Helms Deep. I hear a man saying 'Pull back, into the Keep.' I watch as Haldir is fighting his way through hordes of Orcs...

Aragorn telling him to pull back and Haldir nodding in acknowledgement. He continued to fight and called out to someone, he received a blow to his arm, and everything starts slowing down. That's when I feel like I am a phantom, standing in front of him as he slowly looks to his soldiers, dying before his eyes. He then looks straight ahead, almost as if he is looking into my eyes. He reaches for a chain that was dangling from his neck pulling it from under his armor. He holding it in front of his eyes, he kisses the ring attached to the chain, almost like he knew he would not survive and then…" My words became muffled and what came out was quiet sobs.

I felt Jessi's arms wrap around me once again, "an axe driven into his back…" I grabbed a hold of Jessi's tunic as my heart began to lurch out from my chest, the salty tears running down my cheeks, and onto my chapped lips, stinging, "I had given him a gift back in Lorien before our departure," I struggled to speak words, choking, "It was the..the..same ra-ra-ring I had given to hi-hi-him."

"Are you asking me to save Haldir if he does arrive in Helms Deep?"

Hands still grasping her tunic, I nodded.

Letting go of Jessi's tunic, I whipped away the tears streaming from my eyes. Jessi lifted my blanket over my shoulders and slowly laid me down against the solid earth. Softly whispering, "Do not worry, I will not let you lose him." Slowly I drifted away, listening to the wind singing, the water rippling, fading into darkness.

~oooOOOooo~

I felt a nudge into my back, and then another. I groaned as I sat up. Rubbing my eyes I noticed that I was moving, not only forward, but up and down as well. "Oh dear god," I held my stomach and laid my head off to the side, water misting my face.

There was the sound of many people gasping, and a few mumbled phrases from Jessica in what I assumed were Japanese. "Frodo, the Argonath! Long have I desired to look upon the Kings of old. My kin," exclaimed Aragorn.

"Jessica's too," glancing up from the cresting waves of the Anduin and coming face to face with giant statues. One on each side of the river, hands raised as if giving warning, faces stoic. As the boats grew closer and closer to the statues, the smaller and more insignificant I felt. One of the great beauties still left in this world.

The rivers speed began to quicken as we reached closer to a great waterfall. The land rose above the river on both sides, sharp rocks climbed up from the cascades. Legolas, Aragorn, and Boromir angled the boats towards the rocky shoreline, each getting out and lifting the others onto land. Jessi and I walked a little closer to the woods dropping our packs against a tree, and readjusting our weapons. I turned around to see Boromir, face contorted, almost as if he were fighting something within himself. A nauseous feeling began to rise deep within me. I placed my hand on the dagger Boromir had given me to back in Rivendell, sadness slowly washed over me as a memory replayed behind my closed eyes...

… I dropped my things to my sides; my sword fell from my sash that was tied to my hip. I bent over to pick it up and realized someone else had grabbed it. Looking up I saw Boromir smiling, "Are you ready?"...

…I nodded again, standing how he placed me; twig in hand, "Are you ready for me to kick your ass?"

Boromir chuckled, "I don't think you'll be doing much, rear-end kicking, with that as your weapon," pointing at the twig gripped between my hands.

Everyone started laughing; I screamed, charging towards Boromir swinging my twig wildly in the air, "aye aye aye aye aye aye!" Jessica fell to the ground laughing, the hobbits chanting and dancing, Legolas seeming to be very amused by my 'plan of attack'. Aragorn, Gandalf, and Gimli sat upon a rock laughing at the spectacle and chatting amongst themselves. Jumping into the air I smacked Boromir in the head with my twig...

…He fell to the ground, I landing on top of him. I gazed into his eyes, as we were both still laughing, as was everyone else. I took a deep breath, moving the hair from my eyes and placing it behind my ear, and smiled. I sat there for just a moment as my vision was still spinning before I got up from him and held my hand out to him. "Well, how'd I do?"

"You took on the position very well, moving correctly, twig held in the right position. We'll still need to practice your holding your stance though, and the swinging the twig randomly in the air will not do when you're in the midst of battle," he chuckled placing his hand into mine, me lifting him from the ground…

I blinked my eyes. Boromir stood several feet from me, his face still distorted. I knew that somewhere, deep inside him, he was fighting his way out of darkness only to be pulled deeper down into the dark abyss. I turned away from him and my eyes met Jessi's, the same expression maiming her face. So it has begun.

~oooOOOooo~

In case you were wondering what was spoken in Katie/Tari's P.O.V., here are the rough translations from Elvish to English and the lovely authors explanation as to why she switched her affections from Legolas to Haldir.

Directly from Katie to you, our viewers, here are:

Here are the translations:

Cormamin niuve tenna' ta elea lle au' Melamin. = My heart shall weep until it sees thee again my love.

Tenna' san', kwara sina ten' amin = Until then, hold this for me.

Mani naa ta? = What is it?

A'maelamin, oio naa eleallaa alasse' = My beloved, ever thy sight is a joy.

Namaari = Farewell.

My reasoning for choosing Haldir over Legolas:

- I thought about it for a few days, you (Jessi) had asked me who I chose [since I seemed to have lured two men], but only one was meant to be my soul-mate. (We had discussed before that in our society it was normal for a person to be flirtatious to more than just one person, but that I needed to decide which Elf would be best suited for me because of the physical pain it would cause an Elf to have their heart broken). I thought deeply about what you had asked me and it was then that I realized my character was occasionally withdrawn at times, wasn't so assertive, just like how I am in real life. I've always been attracted to men who are strong-willed, powerful, leaders, seem hard-headed on the outside...only to find a sweet side of them hidden deep within. I think at first my character was drawn to Legolas for his appearance (and that of his royalty) but then I started to see that love is not just about what is on the outside but what truly makes you feel whole and complete. When I first watched LOTR : FOTR - I was captivated by Haldir, his stoic appearance and witty remarks drew me in; I suppose because he kind of seemed like a dick, which to me I saw as a challenge (I don't like easy games, I like to play hard) and I saw him almost as a prize catch. He was handsome, but he was a strong-willed person. When choosing Haldir is wasn't based on just his appearance, but because our personalities balanced each other out wholly and completely. If you have any more questions about my decision, feel free to ask!