3rd person
We'd been out on the water for quite a long time and never stopped moving. The scenery was beautiful, many low hanging trees and bright flowers and wild animals. We had all seperated and gave each other room. Around an hour after they had seperated Áine heard a splash and was suddenly soaked. Áine looked to see Gimli and Legolas also dripping in water. Looking off into the water she saw movement in its depths. Without warning something jumped out of the water and spit water at her.
"Aisling!" Áine cried and before anyone could stop her she jumped in after her to get her revenge. Kathryn quickly joined in, the other hobbits watched in amazement, since when could Kathryn swim? They continued to splash each other back and forth madly. Aisling then turned on Boromir who still sat in their boat, his hair wet from when Aisling jumped in. She splashed him and he pounced into the water after her and started chaisng her. Kathryn sent a wave of water at her boat, it hit on target. Aragorn. He smirked and went for the attack. Everyone was laughing loudly and cheerfully.
Áine had snuck up behind Gimli and Legolas. Legolas was laughing and like any other elf laugh it was light and music like. Áine used the boat to pull herself up a bit, being careful not to give herself away. "What are you laughing at?" she whispered into his pointy ear. She felt him shudder and suddenly stiffen as she quickly wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled the elf prince into the water.
Áine and Legolas were swimming childishly. For some reason Áine tried her best to keep away from Legolas and was trying to make sure he didn't duck under the water. They couldn't see below the water's surface from above, but uderneath it was clear as crystal. At one point Aisling swam up behind Legolas and dunked him under the water. He came back up wide eyed. Staring at Áine in amazement, "You are a Falmari" he stated. Beneath the water, Legolas had been shocked to see Áine had a tail. Long and golden. Only members of the royal family of the lost sea elves were gifted with them.
"What is a Falmari?" asked Boromir. Everyone was now listening. "A sea elf," explained Aragorn, "they are said to be lost or in hidding." Áine shuck her head and brought her tail up so the fin was above the water so they could all see the golden scales, "not lost, left," she told them, "they last few left over a 1500 years ago for Valinor, I was a child but I knew I had to stay, so I remained behind." They were slightly saddened but it was diminished when she smiled. "Why do you have a tail though, do all the sea-elves have them?" asked Pippin. Áine once again shuck her head, "very few have them actually, only those of royal blood, there have been some others but that is quite rare" she explained. Now that everything was settled they all returned to their boats. With the help of Legolas, Áine was seated back in and with a wave of her hand her tail was gone in a cloud of steam that blocked them from view. When it was gone, she was once again dressed and dry. Legolas gave her a jealous look seeing she was dry, noticing this she smirked and waved her hand again, then the water was extracted from his clothes, hair and off his skin and back into the water leaving him dry. She laughed at the shocked look on his face.
After that everyone fell into a calm silence. The water fight and the unveiling of Áine's true self had brought them closer and all were at peace.
The peaceful silence was interupted by fast moving and thundering footsteps. Áine looked around at Legolas and by his worried gaze she could tell he heard them too. Soon they were closer to them and most of the fellowship were looking over their shoulders and inspecting their surroundings for any sign of the approaching force.
When night fall came they had no choice but to land. They did and pulled the boats up in case the water accidentally pulled them back out into the currents. They made a fire and Sam was sitting cooking some food, Kathryn lay beside him trying to get some rest. Frodo sat a bit away from them. Áine and Legolas stood off to the side keeping watch of the forest, Boromir and Aisling were keeping watch of the river. They spotted a log moving across the water but it didn't seem to be moving with the current of the water. They could see something moving behind it.
There was the sound of footsteps from behind them but neither turned to look, "Gollum," came the voice of Aragorn from behind them. "He's been tracking us since Moria, then?" Aisling asked him, still not looking away. "Yes, I hoped we would lose him on the river, but he is too clever a waterman" he informed them. "And if he alerts the enemy of where-abouts, it will make the crossing even more dangerous" added Boromir glancing over at Aisling. Aragorn then walked off leaving the two in silence once again.
Over with Kathryn, Sam and Frodo, Sam was trying to convince Frodo to eat something. "Have something to eat, Mr. Frodo" advised Sam, but Frodo refused. "You haven't eaten anything all day and you're not sleeping neither" Said Sam looking over at him, "don't think I haven't noticed". Kathryn sat up and together with Sam the two sat down on either side of him. "Please Frodo" Kathryn pushed him. "I'm alright" said Frodo but the two hobbits weren't convinced. "We're here to help you, I promised Gandalf I would" Sam told him. Frodo looked at Kathryn then to Sam, his face void of emotion, "You can't help me Sam, neither of you can, not this time."
Boromir and Aragorn were arguing. Aisling didn't join in she wished to stay out of it and not take sides for she knew she would take her father's. She just continued to keep watch but she listened closely to what was being said between the two.
"Minas Tirith is the safer road, you know that." said Boromir aproaching Aragorn, "from there we can regroup, strike out for Mordor from a place of strength."
"There is no strength in Gondorthan can evade this" Aragorn replied. "You were quick to trust the elves" retaliated Boromir, "have you such little faith in your own people? Yes there is weakness, there is frailty but there is courage also and honor to be found in men! But you will not see that!" Aisling spun around in timeto see her father walking away from Boromir but for the Gondorion to jerk him back roughly, "You are afraid!" he cried, "for your life, you have gidden in the shadows scared of who you are of what you are!"
Her father once again tried to leave but this time he turned back to Boromir and said, "I will not lead the ring within 100 leagues of your city" he whispered harshly.
The next morning at day break, they were back in their boats and back along the water. The silence that was only filled by the spilting of the water with our paddles was broken when Aragorn spoke quietly, "the Argonath, long have I desired to look upon the Kings of old… my kin."There before them stood towering statues of stone of men. Each gripped a sword in its right hand, the left outstretched as though in protection.
Not long after that did they return to shore. They grabbed their belongings from the boats. They dumped them on the ground and set up camp.
"We cross the river at nightfall, hide the boats and continue on foot" said Aragorn to the group, "we approach Mordor from the North." Gimli's swift intake of breath and showed his disagreement as he voiced his opinion."Oh yes? Just a simple matter of finding our way through Emyn Muil, an impassable labyrinth of razor-sharp rocks?" Aragorn stared at him patiently, waiting for the Dwarf to finish. "And after that, it gets even better! Festering, stinking marshland as far as the eye can see!" He was obviously pleased to be pointing out the flaw in Aragorn's plan. At least, until the Man put a stop to that.
"That is our road." Everyone turned to ogle at him as he added, "I suggest you take some rest, and recover your strength, Master Dwarf." Aisling, Áine and Kathryn were sitting together all trying not to laugh.
Just then Legolas swiftly turned from where he had been standing studying the forest, ran over to Aragorn. "What's going on?" asked Kathryn. Aisling shrugged, "not sure" and looked to Áine, "put your pointy ears to use and eavesdrop!" Áine rolled her eyes at her friend, muttering to herself, "I really need to get new friends." Kathryn laughed at her evily and then gave her a very scary smile, (A.N. Think of a creeper from Minecraft, that smile) that would have made Sauron shake in fear, "Too bad you are stuck with us!" Áine then put her concentration into listening to the Ranger and princes conversation.
"We should leave now" Legolas told Aragorn. "No, Orcs patrol the eastern shore" Aragorn said to him, "we must wait for the cover of darkness." Legolas looked behind him into the trees, "it is not the eastern shore that worries me." As they spoke Áine would repeat it to Kathryn and Aisling. "A shadow of a threat has been growing in my mind, something draws near."
Áine looked to the other two, all wearing the same expression of worry on their faces. "How further into the future can you remember?" the elleth asked, curious. "Um.. I remember that Frodo and Sam leave on their own and a bit of their journey but nothing else" replied Kathryn. "You mean you don't remember what happens with the others?" Aisling asked. Kathryn just shuck her head, Áine looked to Aisling, "what about you?" Aisling thought for a moment before answering, "The fight, Boromir getting shot, Merry and Pippin being taken and after that its blank, you?" Áine didn't answer, just remained quiet. When she was about to speak again Merry's voice cut her off, "Where's Frodo?"
Everyone spun around looking for the dark haired hobbit. But he was no where to be seen. Aisling hit Áine on the shoulder, to get her attention, "Boromirs gone." Áine shared a look with Kathryn, then said to Aisling, "you know where they are right?" Aisling nodded. "Go find them, we'll stay here, the fight will happen soon." Aisling once again nodded before leaving, heading off into the trees.
"Where is she going?" asked Aragorn. Áine quickly replied, "she said she was looking for Boromir." They shared a knowing look and with that Aragorn also ventured off into the woods.
Aisling had been walking for a few minutes now and she was getting worried. She let out a sigh of relief when she spotted the stone structure before her. She rushed around to the other side, hearing the yells of Boromir, "-You will beg for death before the end" this caused her to move faster in their direction. She could see them. Frodo was walking away from Boromir.
But Boromir charged after him, tackling him to the ground, demanding him to give him the ring. Aisling watched on in shock the ring was pocessing his mind. She rushed forward to stop the struggle and to free Frodo. But just before she reached them, Frodo slipped on the ring and disappeared, knocking Boromir off him. Aisling came up behind the man. "I see your mind! You will take the Ring to Sauron! You will betray us! Be the death of you, be the death of us ALL!" he got up onto his feet. Aisling rolled her eyes and unsheathed her sword. "Curse you! And all Halflings!" at that moment Aisling stepped forward and hit him over the head with the hilt of her sword, "snap out of it, would ya'?" she cried. He looked up at her with such guilt in his eyes. She helped him to his feet. "Frodo?" he whimpered. Aisling ran her hand through his hair to rid it of the leaves. Boromir conitnued to call out for Frodo but Aisling knew he wouldn't respond.
Back at the camp, Áine suddenly had a bad feeling. Kathryn must have felt it too as she turned to look at the elleth a look of such seriousness on her face the she had never seen before. The others around the camp didn't notice the two. Áine stepped towards Kathryn and whispered to her, "I must go, I know you wish to go with Frodo and Sam." Kathryn looked up at her sadly, "be careful and please don't die. Again." Áine smiled down at her sollomly, she brought her into a tight hug before sprinting into the forest.
Áine practically flew past the many trees, dodging low hanging branches and jumping anything that came into her path. Finally she reached Aragorn and Frodo. They stood facing each other. "ARAGORN!" the elleth cried. "FRODO!" The two turned to look at her. She stopped beside them and unsheathed her twin swords that had been gifted to her by her father. Aragorn noticing the glowing coming from Frodo's sword caused him to unsheath his own blade. Frodo noticed as well and quickly fled after being order to leave by Aragorn. The ranger then turned to the elleth, bring his arm up, like for an arm wreastle. She smirked and joined her hand with him, shaking their hands together a bit they let go and then went to face the enemies attacking. There was a large army of Urk Hai ahead of them. Áine looked over at him and said with fake excitment, "just like old times, eh?" Aragorn just shuck his head at her childish manner.
The Urk Hai were upon them in a few seconds, but they were ready. They slashed, dodged, attacked and striked and blocked, taking down at least 10 in the first few seconds. They ended up fighting back to back, feeling safer that way. They were surrounded on all sides, but they never gave up. The Urks seemed to just keep coming. Eventually they were being pushed back, so the two ran for the stone tower. She ran ahead and climbed up quickly with the speed only obtained by being an elf. She sheathed her swords and unleashed her bow. She aimed and fired at Urk Hai that were attacking Aragorn, giving him more of a chance to reach her. She took out a few more as he climbed the stairs up to her before placing her bow back on her back and taking her swords back in hand. One of the Urks got past her strike and slashed her arm, but it wasn't very deep and she would look after it later.
One of them, obviously the leader, gave an order, "Find the halflings!" This made their blood boil over for a moment. Aragorn then jumped of the edge and onto a group of departing Urk Hai who were off insearch of Frodo and the others. He was pinned down, 'idiot, you never think things through!' Áine thought before jumping down after him. She was about to slay the one about to kill Aragorn but an arrow came out of the blue and took it down first. She attacked an Urk Hai that was coming up behind her before spinning quickly to see Gimli and thankfully, Legolas. "Aragorn, GO!" cried Legolas. Áine took up position next to Legolas. He smirked down at her, not even looking as he aimed an arrow and shoot an on coming Urk. Her eyes widened slightly at that which just caused him to look a bit smug.
She rolled her eyes and replied sarcasticlly as she once again took out her bow, "and where have you been?" They took up position similar to how they normally did and how she had fought with Aragorn minutes ago, back to back. "Sorry, dear, got a bit side tracked" he replied with just as much sarcasm. It caused her to laugh slightly. They then went on to fight in silence.
Áine guessed Kathryn was with Sam, Aisling most likely with Boromir. Frodo was probably on his way back to camp by now while Merry and Pippin destracted the Urk Hai. Aragorn had rejoined them. Legolas had put away his bow after he had started running low on arrows, now using his daggers. Gimli was fairing rather well on his own. Áine had taken to using her blades also running low on arrows she would need to collect them as she went along or get more later.
Legolas after collecting most of his arrows was shooting rapidly, also killing one that Aragorn was struggling with. Then a loud noise rang out. "The horn of Gondor!" cried Legolas. With that they all went off in the direction it came from in the hope of helping their friend.
At that moment a bit further into the woods, Merry and Pippin found themselves corner with nowhere to go. The Urk Hai were closing in on them. They thought they were done for until Aisling and Boromir appeared out of nowhere. The two began fighting off the Urks, Merry and Pippin also joined in when they came to close.
Boromir blew on the horn he always kept strapped to his belt in case of emergencies. Hoping the others could hear him. Merry and Pippin had begun to fling rocks into the crowd of Urk Hai. Aisling froze when she saw the leader of the Urk Hai, making his way to them. It was going to happen here and now. She continued to fight her way closer to the creature. But she didn't make it in time to stop him from shooting the first arrow. It lodged itself into Boromir's chest. The hobbits present were in shock. Aisling was being split in two, she could try and kill it or she could try and get Boromir out of the way. Making up her mind she started back towards the man. Boromir got back to his feet and immediately started to fight again. A second arrow was shot at him but this time Aisling was able to push him out of the way, the arrow grazing her arm. This angered the Urk Hai, Boromir returned to his feet not giving up. Another arrow was shot at Boromir this one hit him through the middle of his chest. At that Moment Merry and Pippin had seen enough and attacked. Aisling angered by everything that had taken placed, raced finally at the leader, determined to end him. But she was then grabbed along with Merry and Pippin and taken off.
The Urk Hai that Aisling had been so determined to kill, stayed behind and readied another arrow at Boromir. He was pushed off his feet as Aragorn appeared and ran into him. After a long struggle, Aragorn was able to stab it through, chop off its arm and finally beheaded it. He then rushed to aid Boromir, but it looked as though it were hopeless. "They took the little ones"gasped Boromir. "Be still" advised Aragorn. He was then surpirsed to see another pair of hands join his. He looked up into the concerned face of Áine. He could tell she was injured and tired, just like he was. "Frodo! Wheres Frodo?" Boromir demanded. Áine looked up already knowing the answer. While neither were looking Áine took water from the air and nearby stream and said a few words in her peoples ancient tongue. The water glowed as it wrapped around her hands like gloves. She placed her hands over Boromir's wounds. "I let Frodo go" whispered Aragorn. "Then you did what I could not, I tried to take the ring from him" Boromir told him. Áine continued to inspect his wounds, seeing the seriousness of them.
"The Ring is beyond our reach now" informed Aragorn, "forgive me"pleaded Boromir. He looked over at Áine, wondering why she was even trying to save him. He was done for, and they had never gotten on very well anyway. "I did not see, I have failed you all" he said to her. She locked her eyes with him, placed her hand on his cheek, "you fought bravely, you didn't fail us and you never will." Áine then had to block them out to proparly see what she was doing. When she had finished she heard Aragorn say, "-Nor our people fail" causing a small smile to make its way onto her face.
Áine looked up at the sound of fast moving footsteps. Legolas arrived, noticing Boromir his face saddened. "Aragorn you need to move" Áine told him, he ignore her. "I would have followed you my brother, my captian. My King." Then Boromir went silent. "Be at peace, son of Gondor" he leaned in to kiss his head but Áine pushed him over onto his side, he looked up at her shocked, "I already told you to move, you didn't listen" she said as she conitnued working. Áine checked Boromirs pulse faint but there. She renched out the arrows after each checking his pulse to make sure he was still going and there was still a chance. At the last arrow his pulse froze and she pumped several times on his chest with her hands together. Back on Earth, her and Kathryn had been trained in first aid, CPR being an important part of it. The others looked on in confusion and amazement. She recalled the water from before, gently moving her hands alond the now open wounds. They slowly disappeared one by one. She continued to mutter under her breath as she did. The others listened, they way she chanted, made it almost sound like she was singing.
She then got to her feet, smiling over at them all. A coughing sound came from the ground, looking down they all saw Boromir sitting up coughing a little and throwing up what little food they had had earlier. "Yeah, the first time you use sea-elf magic isn't the best, trust me I know" Áine said cheerfully. They all just stared at her.
"Okay, the wounds weren't that bad, the Urk mustn't have been a very good shot as he missed everything that could have caused death, it was the poison that was the problem, the water you saw me use, extracted it and caused the wounds to close and stop bleeding. It took me years to learn how to do that and do not be surprised if I pass out within the next few minutes, Magic was never my strong suit," she explained to them all.
"So now we're all alive- wait, wheres Aisling?" Áine asked. They all looked around, Boromir froze in realisation. "They took her, they must have" he excliamed. Aragorn almost fell to his knees in grief. Legolas gripped his shoulder. Tears came to Áine's eyes as she thought of her friend. Kathryn had most likely left and now Aisling had too. She was alone, they all were. She touched her necklace, the evenstar. Happy to find that it was still warm to the touch to show that her friends were still breathing.
Áine smiled to herself, knowing Aisling would be thrilled to know Boromir was alive and well. She was proud of herself for her achievement. Some would say this could make things worse. But she didn't believe so, she felt she had to save Boromir and she did, things were going to be different and she was proud of it.
They all watched as Boromir bent down and picked up the, now split in two, horn of Gondor. Aragorn slowly handed him his sword. Áine stepped forward and embraced Boromir, "the Ring has most likely given up it's hold on you now," she explained. He smiled down at her in thanks, "Thank you, I could never repay you enough for what you have done." The elleth smiled at him in return but looked away, off in the direction taken by the Urk Hai, "I only wish I could've done more" she muttered to herself, just loud enough for only Legolas to hear, who stepped forward and placed both of his hands onto her shoulders in reassurance. The two elves turned and saw Aragorn back up on his feet, Áine felt the need to lessen the heavy burden on his mind. "Shes alive, you know," she told him. His eyes met hers with a look of questioning in them. "Our gift from my mother, as you heard the three of us our connected," she explained to them, "from what I can tell, she is well - weak but alive." Gimli now stepped up, patting Aragorn on the back before going over to stand with Áine and Legolas. The two elves smiled down at him in greeting.
Áine's eyes discretely travelled in the direction in which they had originally come from, at the boats. Where she knew Kathryn, Sam and Frodo would be, if not already left.
Frodo stood alone, staring off across to the other side of the river, the ring settled in the middle of his out-stretched palm, tear stains running down his cheeks. Unknown to him, Kathryn and Sam were crashing through the trees in search of him.
After a couple seconds of deliberation, he made up his mind and strode towards one of the boats that rested on the shore, a look of determination on his face. Just seconds after he had lept into the boat and pushed off, Sam and Kathryn emerged from out of the trees.
"Frodo!" cried Sam, in hope that he would stop. "Frodo, Stop!" yelled Kathryn at the top of her lungs. I seemed as though he hadn't even heard them. They tried again this time, the two hobbits raced into the water. Sam was slowly moving forward and Kathryn was breaking the water a little more quickly. Frodo must have heard the sound of them splashing through the water as he spun around to see them, "Go back Sam, Kathryn go with him! I'm going to Mordor alone." Sam seemed to have made up his mind, "Of course you are! And I'm going with you!" Kathryn quickly added after him, "And if you think either of you are leaving me behind you are sadly mistaken!"
Sam started forward again, ending up swimming. Only then did Kathryn notice how far out Frodo really was. She started after Sam, seeing him having some difficulty swimming. "Sam, You can't swim" Frodo cried, desprately, but Sam ignored him. Kathryn reached him and tried to help but all he did was drag her underneath the water with him when she couldn't hold his weight.
The two hobbits quickly were submerged under the water, the last thing they heard before the water cut them off from all sounds was Frodo crying their names as they disappeared.
They were plumiting down into the dark depths of the river. Their minds going blank the further the descended. They tried so hard to get back above the surface but their efforts were of no use. Kathryn looked sadly over at Sam and took his hand in hers and smiled. Her eyes fell on her bracelet and hoped the others were okay. The lights above the surface of the water seemed to be almost taunting them as things slowly became darker and darker.
But then a hand appeared, grabbing hold of Sam's free hand and pulled the two hobbits up to safety. Frodo helped the two into the boat as they coughed and spluttered while also trying to make sure that the boat didn't tip over from the extra weight on the one side.
Sam and Kathryn seemed to have caught most of their breath back as they both sat up and unconsiously Sam wrapped his arm tightly around Kathryn and holding her tight to him and addressed Frodo, "I made a promise, Mister Frodo! A promise! 'Don't you leave him Samwise Gamgee.' And I don't mean to! I don't mean to." Kathryn reached over to place her hand on the side of Frodo's face, "we swore we would stand by your side all the way through and thats what were going to do."
"Oh, Sam! Kathryn!" Frodo sobbed as he pulled the two into a tight hug which was fully returned. The tree stayed like that for a while but Frodo finally pulled away and stated, "come on." With that Sam and Frodo picked up oars. Kathryn sat up front as a look out. They were alone. It was up to them to follow their own path, the path to Mordor. Kathryn let out a sigh and then took in a deep breath before letting it out and saying, "Áine, Aisling wish me luck!"
Only minutes later did Aragorn, Legolas, Áine and Boromir and Gimli all arive back at their camp. The place where the three hobbits had just left. Boromir still held the broken horn in his hand. As they came to the river, Boromir stepped up and flung the now split horn into its rapid currents and they all watched in silence as it flowed over the waterfall. All thinking how close they had come to losing a member of their fellowship and how Aisling, Merry and Pippin had been taken.
Legolas started pushing one of their remaing boats into the water as he called out, "Hurry! Frodo and Sam have reached the eastern shore." Aragorn shared a look with Áine, his eyes seemed almost empty, saddened and afraid. Áine approached him and wrapped her arms around him. He returned the embrace but they still remained quiet as the stepped away from each other and faced the others once again.
Legolas seemed to understand their silent conversation as he then spoke, "You mean not to follow them?" Aragorn once again looked at Áine before the two looked across the river at the shape of their small friends disappearing among the trees. "Frodo's fate is no longer in our hands," remarked Aragorn. Gimli walked towards the others, "then this has all been in vain. The fellowship has failed." Áine shuck her head in disagreement as they all gathered together in a circle. "No," Áine stated firmly, "never." She smiled at her friend and brother, Aragorn encouraging him to speak up. He smiled in thanks as he then said, "Not if we hold true to each other. We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death. Not while we have strength left." With that he spun away from them and called over his shoulder, "leave all that can be spared behind." He grabbed a dagger, the one he resived from Celeborn and sheathed it at his waist, "we travel light." Áine feeling a little excited and bold, jogged over to Legolas, kissed him on the check causing him to blush and the others to watch in either amusement or amazement (or both), she then giggled and said, "lets hunt some orc" and then ran off into the trees, Aragorn hot on her heels.
Gimli and Legolas shared a look and Gimli cried, "YES!" before chasing after them. Boromir smirked over at the elf, in a 'I-knew-it' sort of way before the two raced after the others.
Kathryn, Sam and Frodo had been walking for a while and finally as they reached the top of a steep hill they stopped and looked across at their destination. "Mordor. I hope the others find a safer route," said Frodo and Kathryn couldn't help but agree, praying to whoever was listening to look after her friends. Sam looked from Kathryn to Frodo and then said, "Strider will look after them." Kathryn still found it amusing and slightly comforting that Sam still refered to Aragorn by his Ranger name. "I don't suppose we'll ever see them again" remarked Frodo. Kathryn's shoulders slumped slightly, she wished more then anything she could remember if they all survived, but she couldn't. But felt as if they would at least all meet again someday. "We might yet, Mister Frodo. We may" said Sam. Kathryn smiled slightly and said, "we will," causing the other two to look at her curiously, "I can just feel it." They all smiled together before setting off down the rocky slope, coming closer and closer to Mordor. Closer to destroying the Ring.