12 The Fellowship has failed

Sathien watched as Aragorn pushed the boat off the shore. Boromir lay still, holding his sword with his shield and ox horn beside him. The boat floated down the river, floating over to the waterfall. Then it was pulled down into the swirling waters below.

The last time Sathien would see Boromir. She bowed her head in respect and grief then looked up to see Aragorn securing Boromir's vanbraces with the tree of Gondor around his wrists.

Legolas ran to the last boat, pushing it into the water.

"Hurry, Frodo, Sam and Remla have reached the Eastern shore!" Legolas shouted, and then stopped, looking back at Aragorn who looked out at them as they walked into the woods on the Eastern shore.

Sathien felt her heart ache from everything that had happened as she looked out at her hobbit friend. The loss of Gandalf. The loss of Boromir. And now the breaking of the Fellowship, and the loss of her dear friend.

"You mean not to follow them?" Legolas asked.

"Frodo's fate is no longer in our hands." Aragorn admitted.

"Then it has all been in vain," Gimli walked over to them. "The Fellowship has failed."

Sathien looked down sadly, the words Galadriel had spoken to in her mind.

The Fellowship is breaking, it has already begun. You know this, Sathien of Rivendell. You know what is to come.

"Not if we hold true to each other," Aragorn looked at the three of them. "We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death. Not while we have strength left."

Sathien looked at him, her heart full from his words. Aragorn's words were true, and she did not wish for Meriadoc and Peregrin to suffer in the hands of the Uruk Hai.

"Leave all that can be spared behind. We travel light," Aragorn sheathed an Orc dagger. "Let's hunt some Orc!"

"Yes!" Gimli laughed. Sathien ran to a boat and gathered some lembas, packing it in her bag before joining them.

Gimli looked at her and Legolas and smiled. It was then that Sathien felt comfortable with Gimli being with them, fighting alongside them, risking his life to protect the hobbits.

Sathien took a deep breath and followed them onwards.


"Mordor. I hope the others find a safer route." Frodo said quietly, looking out at Emyn Muil.

Remla breathed hard, climbing up the rocks to join him and Frodo. She looked out at their destination, the fiery land of Mordor in the far distance. They were to find their way through Emyn Muil, then pass through the marshes to Mordor.

It sounded simple, but looked so difficult.

Remla looked over at Frodo, smiling sadly.

"Strider will look after them." Sam reassured him. Remla glanced at him. It's Aragorn, not Strider, Remla thought.

"I don't suppose we'll ever see them again." Frodo said quietly, looking over at Sam.

"We may yet, Mr Frodo," Sam reassured him. "We may."

Frodo smiled slightly.

"Sam, I'm glad you're with me." Frodo smiled. Remla glanced at him, waiting for any regard to her but Frodo turned and started walking down the rock to Emyn Muil. Sam looked at Remla and smiled slightly. Remla reluctantly followed, knowing that it was her journey to accompany Frodo, even though he did not seem to really want her there at all.

Even though she regretted going, leaving behind Sathien. She even wondered what had happened to the others. But she knew that the only reason they formed the Fellowship was to help Frodo take the Ring to Mount Doom.

And that was what she was to do.

The journey isn't over for Sathien and Remla, continue reading on in the Burden of the Ring!