SailorStar9: That was Chapter 12. This is Chapter 13. Remember boys and girls, reviews are an author's subsistence. So, please be a dear and read and review. And is it so difficult for you guys to review instead of just putting this fic up in your favorites and alerts?

Disclaimers: I own nothing, not even the plot nor the fan-idea. Heck, not even the pairing is mine!

Chapter 13: The Breaking of the Fellowship

The Fellowship continued their way, sailing towards a great, roaring waterfall.

Disembarking on a gravel beach as the sun set, Boromir looked troubled, appearing to be fighting a conflict within him, and Frodo risked a glance at him, looking afraid.

"We cross the lake at nightfall." Aragorn remarked, as the group made camp. "Hide the boats and continue on foot. We approach Mordor from the north."

"Oh, yes?!" Gimli retorted in sarcasm. "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! Festering, stinking marshlands, far as the eye can see!" he continued, not noticing Pippin's alarmed expression.

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

"Recover my…?!" Gimli echoed. "Phrrr…"

"We should leave now." Legolas suggested.

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

"It is not the eastern shore that worries me." Legolas stated. "A shadow and a threat has been growing in my mind. Something draws near… I can feel it." His gaze wandered over the dark pine woods, with a dark, brooding statue nestled amongst their needles.

"No dwarf need recover strength!" Gimli scoffed. "Pay no heed to that, young Hobbit."

"Where's Frodo?" Merry wondered, looking around after returning with some firewood.

"He won't…" Athene breathed, spotting Boromir's shield lying by a tree with his baggage.

In the forest, Frodo was wandering about, before he found himself by an immense stone head, long aged and lost from its body, lying with its side in the ground.

Boromir, who was gathering wood, spotted Frodo and approached him across the leaf-littered earth. "None of us should wander alone, you least of all. So much depends on you. Frodo. I know why you seek solitude. You suffer. I see it day by day. You sure you do not suffer needlessly? There are other ways, Frodo, other paths that we might take."

"I know what you would say." Frodo noted. "And it would seem like wisdom but for the warning in my heart."

"Warning?" Boromir echoed. "Against what? We're all afraid, Frodo. But to let that fear drive us to destroy what hope we have… don't you see, that is madness?"

"There is no other way!" Frodo insisted.

"I ask only for the strength to defend my people!" Boromir argued. "If you would but lend me the Ring…" he implored, throwing the wood down.

"No." Frodo stepped back.

"Why do you recoil?" Boromir asked. "I am no thief."

"You are not yourself!" Frodo replied.

"What chance do you think you have?" Boromir urged. "They will find you! They will take the Ring and you will beg for death before the end! You Fool!" he snapped, chasing after Frodo who had begun walking away from him. "It is not yours, save by unhappy chance. It could have been mine!" he caught up with the Hobbit and tackled him to the ground. "It should be mine! Give it to me! Give it to me!"

"No!" Frodo managed to wrestle the Ring into his hand.

"Give me… Give me the Ring!" Boromir demanded.

Frodo slipped the Ring on and vanished, kicking Boromir away from him, he fled.

"I see your mind. You will take the Ring to Sauron!" Boromir accused, looking around desperately. "You will betray us! You'll go to your death and the death of us all! Curse you! Curse you! And all the halflings! Frodo?… Frodo?…" he gasped, returning to his senses after he slipped onto the ground and the Ring's madness leaving him. "What have I done?… please… Frodo! Frodo, I'm sorry! Frodo!"

"Athene?" Legolas blinked, concerned when the Valar took in a startled breath of air.

The Valar's eyes were now blank as she saw herself on a stone platform framed by two stone eagles. A great shape loomed before her from afar. The image rushed towards her and her vision rose to a pinnacle: the dark tower of Barad-dûr, where the burning Eye of Sauron stared back.

Legolas managed to catch the Valar before she collapsed.

"Boromir…" Athene whispered. "What have you done?"

"Frodo?" Aragorn found the Halfling on his back.

"Huh?!" the startled Frodo gasped. "It has taken Boromir."

"Where is the Ring?" Aragorn asked.

"Stay away!" Frodo warned, scrambling up and fleeing from Aragorn.

"Frodo!" Aragorn called, coming after him. "I swore to protect you!"

"Can you protect me from yourself?" Frodo asked, holding the Ring on his palm. "Would you destroy it?"

"I would have gone with you to the end, into the very fires of Mordor." Aragorn promised, closing Frodo's hand over the Ring.

"I know." Frodo nodded. "Look after the others, especially Sam. He will not understand."

"Go, Frodo." Aragorn was now on the alert, drawing his sword. "Run. Run!"

SailorStar9: Now that's done. Read and review folks.