Chief couldn't help but reflect on everything that had happened over the course of these past months. He looked out across the forest, at the trees, and at the waters of the river Anduin as they passed by. They flowed fast at the centre, whilst were only a trickle when passing close to the shore.
His left eye could be seen. The glass had been pulverised during battle with the savage Nimmah. Whilst still structurally intact, and would stop a rogue arrow bringing him down, the HUD behind was completely wrecked. The internal mesh and wiring that lay behind had rent and buckled. Any information presented by the system would now be untrustable. Cortana had been able to bypass the damaged matrix in nanoseconds, but could give no guarantee that the system would function correctly. He no longer had EMS out here in Middle Earth.
He wondered if this was symbolic of something. Had he lost something? Or reclaimed something perhaps? Now that he was forced to rely on his own initiative and eyes. Something that he had not possessed for near to two decades perhaps? He was not sure. Other thoughts quickly overtook these minor issues. His wounds were healing, and the bullet had been removed. It had only bit a couple of inches, nothing bio foam couldn't fix!
He reflected back on his journeys. What he had done, and what the future would hold. Four years ago, he had been a soldier of the UNSC. He had fought in a war that had lasted nearly three decades. At its climax, old enemies had become allies, workers grafting towards a common good. He and his allies had travelled beyond known space, beyond the galaxy itself to an ancient seat of power: The Ark, Forerunner installation-00. There he had defeated an enemy hell bent on the destruction of mankind, finally bringing an end to a society that had caused the deaths of approximately 23 billion humans.
He had also confronted a timeless enemy, the flood, worse than even the Covenant. He had descended into what had felt like the depths of hell itself, the very epicentre of a lethal, space-faring ecosystem. He had travelled to the diseased High Charity, to destroy the flood and find the one person that he felt, more than ever now, that he couldn't live without.
She sat with him now, wearing her green-leaf elven cloak, sitting daintily on the grass just next to him. He had recovered it after the battle with the Uruks, after ensuring that Boromir was stable, and that no other warriors were coming for them. He always kept his promises. It was something of a tradition now! A secret alphabet that both he and Cortana shared in secret.
She was his oldest living friend, his companion, with him until the end...Cortana. He could not imagine life without her. He was glad that she was here with him, in this more peaceful world, filled with trees and rivers and clean, evening air. She smiled and blushed a little when she caught him staring!
The others had accepted her, even though they had been stunned by her sudden appearance. There had been a period of consolation, an intervention almost. Cortana had revealed herself during the skirmish, their secret was out. They had been hurt of course, but they had accepted her. John trusted her with his life. This alone was good enough for the rest of them.
Cortana. He had found her, all alone inside of the terrible infested corridors of High Charity. He had found her, just as he had promised. Together they had destroyed the flood, and destroyed the great Ark itself in the process. An artificial construct larger than a dozen earth sized worlds, and he had somehow managed to destroy it! He could remember seeing his 'handy-work', looking out that window, aboard The Dawn, long since crashed here on this peaceful, backwater world.
The old ship was like a monument, to all he had lost, and to all he had gained here in Middle Earth. Stuck here on this pretty world, the planet of Arda, its name as spoken in the tongues of elves. Much like earth, it had beauty. It had wickedness. And it had good and evil in equal measure. It was incredible, and deserved protecting.
He had not lost his purpose by being stuck here. There was still a humanity to protect, and half a dozen other good and virtuous peoples who deserved to live out their lives, free from evil and oppression.
There was danger in this world. Great evil. Monsters and magic and other such things that Chief had known once to be impossible. There were forces at work here that John, for all his knowledge did not understand. A place where gods, and magic and religion was real and empirically provable. Magic. Was it magic? In honesty, he still didn't believe a single word of it. Science? Perhaps. There were clues here and there, morsels of information. Fragments of some greater truth that he could not yet piece together.
For all his experience, the destroyer of worlds and 'Godly constructs', he had not the power to clarify these thoughts. For all his worth, there was forces at work here that John just did not understand. But, what he did understand was plain and simple. There were good people here, people that were vulnerable, who could not defeat the growing power of evil that marshalled against them.
How did he know that they were good? Why should he fight for elves and dwarfs? Not for orcs and ancient wizards? The answer was just as simple. Because the free peoples of this world did not fight for resources. They did not care for conquest and dominion of all things. They were kind and compassionate, for the most part. And even then when they did cause evil, it was due to misguided perceptions about the world, not genuine wishes for hurt or power.
No, these free people truly were good. They fought against their evils and demons, and almost always defeated them. Of course, for all their virtues, they did not have the power to defend themselves from the combined strength of Mordor and its allies. They needed Chiefs help, needed it desperately...
"And they will get it John!" Cortana suddenly interrupted. "I know you, I know they will. I believe in you, always have, always will. You never give up, you never stop fighting. You've done this all your life. It's why I...admire you so much. And why I will never stop admiring you." Cortana said to him, with all her heart and soul. Taking his hand in hers, pulling him down towards her.
Chief smiled, his visible eye almost twinkling in the evening sun, looking into her own as he sat down with her. She knew him too well, had known him for too long. Cortana always filled him with warmth and confidence, put his mind at peace. They could confide in each other. He her, and she him. Chief had never been able to do that, not with anyone, not even his Spartans! But he could always confide in Cortana. And she could always confide in him. They had both known each other for too long!
"It's not over" Chief replied to her quietly, "War is coming now, like with us before them. It's not a war that humanity, or the others, can hope to win."
Cortana nodded, face set blank, concealing all emotions. "Our only hope is Frodo!" She continued, "The hope that he can destroy the ring, and end this once and for all. It's a long shot, who's to say it will even work? This is magic and sorcery, and all we have is the words of wise men. We have no other assurance that this will work." She said, fearfully.
Chief nodded. It had occurred to him much time ago. What if it didn't work? What if destroying the ring wouldn't destroy Sauron? "It has to work" He replied to her confidently. But as Cortana looked down at the leaves below, face full of worry, he knew that wasn't good enough.
He took his hand out from Cortana's, and crawled a little closer to her. He rose into a kneeling position, and placed both his hands on her shoulders, making her flinch ever so slightly in shock. His heavy but gentle hands. When was John ever this intimate?
"It, will, work...Frodo is strong, so is Sam. They will look after each other, they will get to Mordor. I've seen men do less!" Cortana smiled and nodded, finally reassured by him. She WAS starting to see a wonderful new side to him!
Chief sighed, thinking back to the event which had occurred just minutes ago. Letting Frodo and Sam go had been one of the hardest human moments of his life. It had been such a relief seeing the two hobbits appearing out of the thicket of bushes, knowing that they were alive. But watching as they had disappeared into the treeline on the other side of the river had just been awful. He feared for the hobbits, how could he not have done? Two little Halflings, all alone in a wide and dangerous world, heading for the very heart of the enemies territory.
He felt that he had failed them, all the fellowship. Merry and Pippin were gone, and had been taken right from under his guard. Saruman's monster would have killed them all had it not been for him. At least he knew he'd done that much. But, on the other hand, was hope. They had determination in them. And bravery, equalling anything he'd ever seen. Perhaps even exceeding it! Chief would continue to tell himself that they would make it, that they had to make it.
They would make it!
Cortana looked up at him, her eyes twinkling. "You believe in them?" She said with great tenderness and vulnerability, her voice soft like the coo of a gentle dove. Chief just nodded. Cortana chuckled, he wouldn't change. Still a man of few words. It was why she...why she...
Cortana stopped and sighed, she still couldn't come to terms with her emotions. Still too overwhelming. She didn't understand them, didn't know what they meant, she was still afraid of them. But she wouldn't stop trying to figure them out. She knew that they were important. She just didn't understand why yet.
Meanwhile, if Chief believed things would work out, that was good enough for her!
It was then that Aragorn came over, followed by Legolas and Gimli, putting his hand gently on Cortana's shoulder. "Worry not! Don't give in to fear and dread. Our actions will not be in vain. Whilst the Fellowship has ended, our journey has not. We will move forward, continue to defend Middle Earth and all those who dwell in it. There is still a fight to be had, and only hope should fill our hearts!"
Cortana was starting to feel better. She stood, looking up into the man's eyes...hmm, she could see why Arwen liked him!
Just then, Boromir suddenly woke up. He was laid down amongst some cloaks, still passed out since Cortana had materialised right in front of him. "*Cough*, *Cough*! He is right. There is no reason for fear now. Only to hope..." He said, his eyes glazing back over as soon as they had opened.
He was still in a bad way, weak, pale, in need of food and rest. Lambdas bread and hypotonic solutions would sustain him, but he wasn't going to be able to walk for many days yet. Much less run!
Chief looked back at the fast moving river, and movement caught his eye. One of the boats had come loose from its moorings. Boromir's boat. It was carried away by the strong current. Picking up speed, loosing stability, until it finally disappeared over the side of the great falls. Taking his empty packs, ruined tunic and the Horn of Gondor with it.
Chief looked back at the sickly captain. He thought about how things could have turned out if he hadn't arrived when he did...it wasn't worth thinking about! Boromir was alive. He was a good soldier. Brave and powerful. He would only be an ally to them, once he had healed. At least they had Bio foam. That would cut that healing time tenfold. But as of yet, he was still in no position to walk and stand. This would be a problem.
"Has it all been in vain? Will we fail?" Gimli said grimly. Letting Frodo go had also affected him badly. Aragorn moved from Cortana, and placed his hand on Gimli's shoulder, bringing in everyone: Legolas, Chief, all. Making them stand, making them all come in. He was ready to lead them once again.
"Not if we hold true together!" Aragorn began simply, speaking with much fealty. Gimli hardened himself, and grips Aragorn by the arm in agreement and respect. They all looked round at each other, whilst Boromir slept. Legolas, Cortana, John and Gimli...so long as they had each other.
"So, what now boss?" Cortana asks Aragorn, in good spirits now. Aragorn smiles a little, but replaces amusement with steel and confidence. "We save the hobbits. We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death. Not whilst we have strength left..."
Legolas had a single question. "What about Boromir?" Everyone looked round to the captain's direction. All apart from Cortana. She just looked towards Chief, a beaming, mischievous smile spread across her face.
"Chief?" she asks, almost like a joke. John stares back, eyes like a wolf, betraying playful false hate to her. But he knew there was no alternative.
"I will carry him. I can manage." Course he could, he had Mjolnir armour!
Aragorn turned back around, and nodded. "Very well. We leave all that can be spared behind. We travel light...let's hunt some orc!" He said with adrenaline. And on that, tore off into the treeline. Gimli and Legolas look at each other eagerly, very eagerly!
"YES! Hahaar!" The dwarf bellowed as he sprant after his comrade, quickly overtaken by the light-footed elf.
Cortana stayed with Chief. Whilst he swept Boromir up in his arm. Cloak, shield, sword and all. As he hoisted him over his shoulder, he asked Cortana one simple question. "Ready to get back into it?"
"Of course!" She said smiling. "But, Chief, I've never experienced running before. I want to try it!"
John's eyes widened for a moment in surprise. Of course she hadn't! Chief loved running, it was one of the only luxuries that a Spartan possessed. How could he deny her it? "Just don't fall behind!" He said playfully, and sped off after the others.
Cortana beamed in happiness, jumped up and down, ran on the spot. Hell, she didn't need to warm up! She didn't have muscles!
She started to run. Wind flew past her head, noisy in her ear. The ground beating hard under her feet. The feeling was simply magnificent!
A few minutes passed by, and two small but determined friends had just broken clear of the Amon hen treeline. A bleak expanse of volcanic rock lay before them now. The two companions climbed over the hard and twisted rock ahead, and when they reached the summit, they looked out into the clearings beyond.
A great sea of stone greeted them. Tall, like the tumultuous, storm fevered waves of a frozen, petrified sea. Beyond that, flatlands, green and brown, broken by pools of water: The marshes. And beyond that, hidden under shadow, flame and fire. Hidden behind a great rising wall of mountain, as if the very ground itself had risen from the floor below, was their destination.
They wondered how such a formation had occurred, how on earth rock could rise so high out of the ground. Hobbits didn't know about the science of plate tectonics. Or perhaps that wasn't how. Perhaps the rock had risen by the power of Sauron. Or perhaps Morgoth himself had commanded the rock to rise from the ground into the sky above? We may never know! But all the same, it was incredible. And it was what lay ahead of them. It was certainly intimidating!
"Mordor!" Frodo breathed in awe, "I hope the others find a safer road!" He sincerely hoped it, he would never want harm to come to them. But he was in good spirits, despite the heart-brakes of earlier, leaving everyone behind. Well, almost everyone!
"Strider will look after them" Sam said confidently. "As will the Chief. They will be alright!"
Frodo smiled, he was sure too. But it was still sad, "I don't suppose we will ever see them again" He sighed, realistically, they wouldn't.
Sam wouldn't have it! "We may yet Mr Frodo, we may!"
Frodo hoped now, Sam's words had reassured him, filled him with warmth and courage. "Sam..." He began, turning to face his best friend for a moment. "...I'm glad you're with me." Sam smiled back in reply. Always to reassure his friend.
As they both turned to gaze at the land beyond again, something caught their eye. A small light glowing in the distance, beyond the darkness, away from Mordor. Like a star it twinkled. Red, bright, glowing. Then began to move across the sky, burning high in the atmosphere, right over their heads, higher than they could imagine. Astonishing!
"Another falling star!" Sam breathed in wonder. "It's a sign Mr Frodo, a blessing! A sign of good luck, for sure!" It was at that moment when Sam knew everything was going to be alright. He started to make his way down the incline, towards the twisted labyrinth of rock beyond.
Frodo continued to stare at the falling orb of light, until it disappeared, moving somewhere towards the south. He thought back to that night on Weather Top. Not about the fire or pain or wraiths however, but about Chief.
John had said that he hadn't come from the shooting star. Pippin had told him that in Rivendell, he hadn't been convinced. He had asked Chief in person during their long trek though Moria. He had said no then as well. Frodo hadn't perused it, but had sensed lie in the Spartan's words. What would the shooting star bring? More warriors, like Chief? If not, how would they be different?
He just wanted to hope that Sam was right, that it was just a sign of good luck. Nothing more. He looked forwards once more, following Sam, heading off on his quest once more. It was going to be a long adventure after all!