Chapter 12: Never Again

An anguished male cry alerted Naomi, Gimli and Legolas to Boromir's general direction, so they went in the opposite direction in hopes of finding Frodo. Naomi didn't know what was wrong but Legolas seemed to be on absolute edge, his head snapping to every sound and shadow that moved.

"Legolas?" Naomi asked, gently placing her hand on his arm. That made him jump and Naomi frowned.

"What's wrong? You been like this for ages," Legolas was about to respond when he paused as if listening although Naomi could hear nothing.

"Something is wrong, we must move quickly!" The Elf stated before dashing off, leaving it up to Naomi and Gimli to run after him.

/\\

Suddenly she knew. Frodo was leaving. On his own.

"What? What…what!" Her last 'what' was high pitched and both Frodo and Aragorn turned to her.

"S-sword!" She stuttered pointing at the pale blue light shining out of the sheath of Sting, Frodo's sword that indicated when Orcs were near.

"Go Frodo! Run! Tess go with him!" Aragorn cried standing and drawing his blade.

"But-!"

"RUN!" He bellowed and Tess turned, grabbing Frodo's shoulder and pulling him into a run. The roar of Uruk-hai and the thunder of their footsteps was soon followed by the sound of metal on metal, but Tess did not stop. Somewhere behind her she heard a distinct voice crying out, it was course and sent chills up Tess spine.

"FIND THE HALFLING! FIND THE WOMAN! FIND THE HALFLING!"

Its meaning registered as she almost tripped, praying that the other Hobbits would find safety and that Naomi would be with Legolas.

/\\

Naomi, Gimli and Legolas heard the battle before they saw it but each prepared their weapons and as soon as they were in range attacked. Legolas firing arrows, Gimli hurling his axe while Naomi helped pull and Uruk-hai off Aragorn.

"Aragorn go!" Legolas cried to the Ranger who ran off, Naomi following quickly, her two swords at the ready. Aragorn ran an intercepted an Uruk-hai from side on and Naomi didn't hesitate to swing at another.

'Don't stop or you'll freeze! Remember your training and attack their weak spots! C'mon Naomi you can do this!' She drilled into her mind, slicing at their arms, bare legs and necks. The first few fell easily as they weren't expecting it but after that she had to work, using all the tactics she could remember.

/\\

Tess' chest heaved as she and Frodo ran down the hill, both doing their best to avoid tripping. But Frodo misplaced his foot when he looked back and went tumbling down. Tess could hear Uruk-hai gaining on them and swept Frodo into her arms before ducking behind a tree, the dimwitted creatures running straight passed. It was then they heard the hushed whispers of Merry and Pippin.

"Frodo!"

"Hide here! Quick! C'mon!" They beckoned from their hiding spot under some fallen logs. Frodo gave them a look of dismay before turning to Tess who licked her lips and grasped his shoulders tightly.

"Do you forgive Boromir?" She asked quickly, needing to know that she could ease the mind of the no doubt distraught Gondorian Captain.

"Yes," He nodded, Tess sighed out before swallowing the lump in her throat.

"Be strong, don't talk to strangers and for goodness sake Frodo be careful!" She whispered shaking him before giving him a tight hug.

"I will see you again! I promise!" With a quick kiss on his forehead she stood and ran to Merry and Pippin who had emerged from their hiding spot and were about to stop him.

The cry of Uruk-hai alerted the three of the danger that was getting closer, they could in fact see the large number of Uruk-hai traversing the hill. Merry had an idea and turned to Frodo who was still pressed against the tree.

"Run, Frodo! Go on!" He muttered before turning to the orcs and shouting out.

"HEY! HEY YOU!" Tess and Pippin caught onto his plan to let Frodo escape and shouted out themselves.

"Over here!"

"This way you great hulking lugs!"

Jumping and shouting the trio drew their attention, before turning tail and running not looking over their shoulders once.

"It's workin'!" Pippin cried when nearly all the Uruk-hai were running in their direction.

"I know it's workin'! RUN!" Merry cried out pushing his cousin on, Tess following close behind them.

/\\

Naomi stood near Aragorn fighting hard, her face dripping with sweat with her blonde hair plastered to her face. Uruk-hai were falling but not quick enough and too many of them got passed. With a cry Naomi swung hard and the orc in front of her fell with an irreparable hole in its throat. Nearby she could see Legolas using his long blades and Gimli using his fists. In those few seconds Naomi used to look around another three orcs ran at her. They all fell too easily yet again and Naomi just didn't understand, Aragorn had had years of training fighting against enemies and was using blocks and several attacks to kill one while she merely had to swing once or twice to kill three. As she sliced through another face she noticed that while the majority of the orcs were running to get passed them for Frodo no doubt, a large chunk of them were always running for her. Something was not right and when a purple, black arm wrapped around her waist she suddenly knew why.

'They're not after the guys, they're after ME!' With a startled cry she was hoisted over the beasts shoulder, but it fell when an arrow went through its chest.

"Naomi are you alright?" Legolas grabbed her arm and hoisted her to her feet, pulling back another arrow and killing an orc that was getting to close before turning back to chest if she was okay.

"Le-Legolas-!"

"Yes I know! They are trying to capture you!

"No Legolas-!"

"They are also after the Hobbits but-," With a frustrated yell she shoved the Elf out of the way and blocked an incoming swing that was meant for his head with her sword. With a quick stab through its abdomen it died and Naomi turned back to Legolas.

"I do NOT need you dead! So quick focusing on me and move your butt!" She ordered running after another Uruk-hai.

/\\

The two Hobbits ran before Tess across a bridge and it held just fine, but when Tess crossed a small part of it crumbled away and her foot caught, sending her to the ground.

"Shit!" The mutter left her lips as she scrambled to her feet again, only to find pain burst through her ankle. Pippin and Merry had stopped and run back to her, not only because she was hurt but because there was nowhere for them to go that did not have orcs.

"Run you fools!" Tess cried getting to her feet again, holding all her weight on her right foot.

'I do NOT have time for a sprained ankle!' She cursed in her mind as she and the Hobbits hobbled onwards to flatter ground before pulling out their swords.

"Get behind me," She ordered, not giving them a choice and pushing them behind her. Out of the corner of her eye she saw something red running for the but paid no heed to it as she tightly gripped her sword and watched the orc with an axe coming for her. Just as it swung Boromir leapt in front and grabbed the weapon, twisting it and slamming it into the orc who had held it. There was no time for greetings as more orcs swarmed around them and Merry and Pippin fought together stabbing from down low as Tess swung a finishing blow. With a grunt Boromir threw a knife that imbedded perfectly into an orcs neck.

"Good shot!" Tess called as her sword pierced through another neck. The only good thing about being a target they wanted, obviously alive, was that they could raise their weapons at her once they were near her. This didn't stop her from stepping back and wincing yet again as too much pressure was put on her left ankle. Her grunt was heard by Boromir who immediately understood what was wrong and wrapped an arm around her waist and picked her up as he and the Hobbits retreated back at a run. They only made it a couple of meters before he had to put Tess down and swing again, Tess following his lead.

"There's too many!" She had to cry at last as more came at them.

"They shall not get you!" He yelled back as he picked up his horn and after taking a deep breath blew.

/\\

Orcs and Uruk-hai were falling left and right as Legolas fired at anything that moved, his aim perfect as each arrow found its mark. But try as he may he could not keep an eye on Naomi. Said woman was running to stop those that were getting passed, fearing for her other friends that she could not see. When there were no more running at her from uphill she sheathed her swords and pulled out her bow, pulling out a blue feathered arrow and standing correctly, making sure her shoulders were straight and her aim was good before she let the arrow fly. Surprise lit her face when the arrow went through not only one but two orcs, both thumping to the ground in seconds never having seen it coming.

"Oh YEAH!" With her free fist she pumped the air and pulled her bow over her shoulders as she ran after the disappearing group. Pulling out just one of her swords she ran down some stairs, pushing an orc that fell down into two more. Not pausing she slashed at their open necks, her hair managing to fall out of its loose tie as she did. When the Uruk-hai didn't move she continued on until she was in range of more orcs and sheathed her sword again, pulling out her bow and another arrow. She fired then grabbed another arrow, and then another and another. The arrows littered bodies and occasionally trees, the bright blue feather standing out against the greens and browns of the forest. Naomi had thought she was at the back of the group, so when a fat arm wrapped around her neck she was taken by complete surprise. Her bow dropped from her hand as she struggled against the beast's iron grip as it started to run after the group. Black stars started to appear in Naomi's vision as her air supply was cut off and the last thing she remembered seeing was Tess' shocked face fifty meters away.

/\\

Pippin and Merry were throwing rocks, their aim surprisingly accurate. Tess sword slashed through any that got near here as Boromir blew into his horn whenever he did not have to use both hands for his sword. Tess had just finished off another Uruk-hai when she looked up to see a bunch of Uruk-hai group up and go in a different direction, sideways along the hill instead of directly at them. In an instant as if fate had wished it Tess' brown eyes met Naomi's blue ones. Her blonde hair plastered against her face and neck, the rest of it tumbling down her shoulders, a large Uruk-hai's arm around her neck. Her face grew pale and her lips moved as if trying to say something to Tess before the woman fell limp and the separate group of orcs disappeared from Tess' sight.

"No…no no NO!" With a loud cry Tess ran forward with the intention of going after them when Boromir held her back.

"No! They will overwhelm you!"

"NAOMI!" Tess screamed as tears filled her eyes, her hands shaking as she sliced through another Uruk-hai. She was furious, her movements became sharper and stronger as she hit anything near her. The Hobbits and Boromir had increased their pace as well, the man moving quicker, Merry and Pippin throwing themselves onto an Uruk-hai and pulling it to the ground before stabbing through its chest. But it was useless, there were just too many. Boromir told Merry and Pippin to run; Tess simply moved further to the right to take on another as Boromir held them off. Merry and Pippin didn't go far, simply to the next batch of rocks and started hurling them again. Tess was turning to take on another when she noticed up the far back a particularly large Uruk-hai aiming for Boromir. Tess turned, her voice clogging up her throat as she ran for him not noticing the sharp pain in her ankle anymore. She was too late. The man turned slightly and Tess saw the arrow sticking out just above where Boromir's heart would be. For a brief moment he went to his knees, before swing his sword and getting back up again, a feat which had Tess standing still for a few seconds. It was enough time for another arrow to find its way to Boromir's body. This one just above his left hip. Everything slowed down as Tess walked forward stiffly, willing her body to move faster and save him, but it would not and instead tears were blurring her vision, choking her and tripping her as she tried desperately to walk faster.

'Why won't you let me get to him…why are you stopping me?' The thoughts slowly swirled in her head as she pushed herself forward; it was as if some invisible force field was holding her back, and she hated it. Boromir had fallen to his knees again and was puffing as he looked at the three of them. With her mind Tess tried to tell him to be still, to stop moving and let her protect him. The thoughts did not reach the man as he again yelled out and swung his sword. The movements were slack now and he only held his sword in one hand loosely as he blocked and struck the enemy. With another yell and a two handed swing he took out another Uruk-hai, this last one managing to slice his horn in half. Suddenly there was a high pitched sound in the air and with a start Tess realized it was her as a third arrow hit Boromir in his left side. She pushed on and finally moved, though everything had slowed down as Boromir fell to his knees gasping. Her sword lay forgotten as she ran hard, trying to reach him before the monsters, the murderers did. Faintly she heard Pippin and Merry give battle cries as they ran at the Uruk-hai, quickly over powered though, hoisted up and carried away like leaves on the wind. Tess didn't stop though, she punched and kicked her way through doing everything she could to reach the dying man.

"Boromir! Boromir!" She called desperately as something pushed her to the ground, with a swift kick to the face of it she crawled onwards barely a meter from him when the same creature grabbed her leg and started dragging her back.

"Boromir! He forgives you! FRODO FORGIVES YOU!" She screamed as tears fell over her cheeks. She clawed at the ground, trying to go forward towards him not back. She would not give in, she would not let him die alone.

"Boromir! You won't die! Please don't die! You still have to show me Gondor! And Faramir! You cannot leave Faramir!" Her strength was leaving her, she would not reach Boromir and that only made her sob harder. The Gondorian man was watching her, trying to reach for her hand but was it was too late.

Their time was up.

The Uruk-hai dragging at her hit her over the head and she fell limply into the leaf litter. Only half conscious she was pulled up off the ground and hoisted onto its shoulder as she was carried off. Never to see the man with grey eyes from Gondor again.

"Boro…mir…,"

Everything faded out.

/\\

On the bank of the lake stood the three remaining members of the Fellowship, Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn.

"Hurry! Frodo and Sam have reached the Eastern shore!" Legolas cried pushing the last boat into the lake. When he turned back however her found Aragorn sighing and simply adjusting Boromir's gauntlets onto his wrists before looking across the lake to Frodo and Sam's retreating figures through the trees.

"You mean no to follow them," Legolas stated, not questioned.

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

"Then it has all been in vain, the Fellowship has failed," Gimli announced dejectedly as he walked up to the Elf and Ranger. Aragorn however would not have this and strode forward to take both Gimli and Legolas' shoulders into his hands.

"Not if we hold true to each other, we will not abandon Merry and Pippin and Naomi and Tess to torment and death," He stated, looking specifically into Legolas' eyes for even though it was the Elf that had prepared the boat, he wanted much more to go after Naomi, having found (and collected) her arrows and bow and not finding her body he knew that she had been taken.

"Not while we have strength left! Leave all that can be spared behind, we travel light!" Aragorn exclaimed as he sheathed the dagger he received from Lord Celeborn.

"Let's hunt some Orc," He said finally before turning and running into the trees. Gimli and Legolas looked at each other for a moment before smiling and running after their leader, after their friends and their future. Gimli starting with a loud cry.

"YES!"

Author's Babbling:

*bursts into tears* I know it's probably only me that's crying but I don't care! It's just so sad and in the movie it has the soft music and the desperate cries of Merry and Pippin and OH! I can't take it! *sniff* I need a tissue.

(blows nose)

ANYWAYS! Yes! This chapter is completely and utterly SHORT, but that is how I think it should be, because that is basically the end of the first movie and with both girls knocked unconscious it is the PERFECT way to start the Two Towers. So I shall continue writing and it is with a swollen heart that I say THANKYOU! To all who had joined me so far in the magical quest in the land of Lord of the Rings.

Stay tuned for Chapter 14!

Love you all so so much!

AxM

P.s. reviews and faves make me so happy :)