Bit of a short chapter here, but hey, we're moving right along into Two Towers! Go us! we're 2/3 and almost 30 chapters in! Let's kick some ass!
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The boats land at the edge of the woods of Parth Galen just before the great waterfall on the Anduin. Aragorn says, pulling his boat ashore, "We cross the lake at nightfall, hide the boats, and continue on foot. We approach Mordor from the North."
You help set up a temporary camp as Gimli voices his displeasure at the road ahead and Pippin listens in horror. You'd like to reassure them that they'd never go on to see that path, but you need to play things close to the vest at the moment. These next few hours are crucial to the development of the rest of the quest and indeed the war. You must make sure Frodo has a chance to leave with Sam and that Merry and Pippin are taken by the orcs, but be in place just in time to save Boromir. You huff as you set a pack on the beach. Sometimes it's obnoxious to keep up with so many threads of a situation.
Merry breaks your reverie with a well-intentioned, "Where's Frodo?"
And that's your cue! You'd actually meant to sneak away with Boromir and join him after he'd regained his senses, but you're too late for that. You hop up and jog into the woods. The others follow close behind. You pause several paces in, realizing that you have no idea which way to go.
Aragorn has that covered. "Fan out," he orders. "We must find Frodo."
Well, it's a start. You pick a random direction that no one else chose, hope it's the right one or close to it, and start turns out foresight is useless in this situation. All the trees and boulders and ruins look the same. You could be right next to Boromir or in the exact opposite direction for all you know. The sudden distant sounds of clanging and shouts make you panic a bit. Your window of opportunity is running out to change destiny once again.
You collide with what must be an unseen stone, as it hits you around midriff. You grunt and fall on your backside; the stone reacts similarly. "Frodo!" you gasp, moving towards him at once.
Frodo backs up quickly, gazing at you warily.
"Oh, no, Frodo, it's okay!" You hold up your hands peacefully. "I know what Boromir did and I know what you're about to do. It's alright."
Poor Frodo looks absolutely miserable. "I must, though I am afraid to."
"You don't need to be afraid! You'll do perfectly!"
"You know so much...Aniel, you could take it, you could destroy it..."
The ring glints in his outstreched palm. You blink at the offering, completely blindsided. You knew he offered it to Aragorn, but to be presented with the same opportunity! You of all people, who knows every step between now and the fall of Sauron, who knows the intricacies of the ring as well as the Dark Lord himself! What could you do with such knowledge, such power? Surely the possibilities are limitless...
"Ha! Well, that was interesting to think about." You close Frodo's fingers into a fist and smile warmly at him. "My role was never to take over as Ringbearer, Frodo, and even if it was, I'd never do as good a job as you. Listen to me, because I haven't much time to spare - you will succeed. You will face so many obstacles and overcome each of them. It will be terribly hard, but you can do it. Just remember that when you feel like giving up. I have seen this beyond a doubt, and I will see you again."
Frodo nods once, his eyes brimming with tears. You kiss him quickly on the head before he dashes off.
The horn of Gondor rings through the trees just then. You leap up, heart racing, and sprint in the direction of the sound so quickly that your feet barely touch the ground. You hadn't counted on running into Frodo - the time spent talking to him might have been the time you had to save Boromir -
You fly past the orcs, who have no time to attack. You only have eyes for the big Uruk-hai, Lurtz. His familiar form jumps out of the crowd and you tackle him headlong like a possessed rhino. He never sees you coming. You make sure he is extra dead before rising to deal with the rest of the orcs. Once Aragorn joins the fight, you abandon it to seek Boromir.
He is on his knees with, you're relieved to see, only one arrow sticking out of him. The long black shaft protrudes from his shoulder. He seems stunned with pain until you grab him to lay him back, at which he grabs your wrist and tries to stand. "The little ones," he gasps, "they took the little ones!"
"I know, I know. Just stay still."
"We have to go after them!"
"We will, but first I need to tend to your shoulder."
"I can still fight - "
"Boromir!" you say sharply. "Lie down before I hurt you more!"
"No. Leave me. Go after the Halflings. I am dishonored. I have broken my vow to protect Frodo."
You finally meet his eyes and say quietly, "I know."
"And you would still aid me? No, I will not have it." He tries to push your hands away. "Your duty lies with Frodo, not with me."
"Frodo is gone. He's left with Sam to continue to Mordor alone."
"I drove him to such an unwise path," Boromir laments. "Leave me to die, my good lady. It is no more than I deserve."
"No, you deserve to live, which is why I tackled that orc. But perhaps you can take some solace in this - "
Boromir shouts in pain when you yank the arrow out. The cry alerts Aragorn, who has finished dispatching the rest of the orcs. He kneels by the two of you, shocked.
"Go get athelas," you order him. "I've got things in hand here."
Aragorn does not argue and rushes off immediately. You pour some water from the water skin at your side onto the wound and apply pressure with a wad of your shirt. "You're going to live whether you like it or not," you tell Boromir firmly.
"How shall I go forth from here? To my people it is better to die with honor than to live without it."
"Well you can hardly regain your honor if you don't live, can you? Listen, we need you here. There's still a long way to go. Fight with us, and for all the good you will do, your mistake will be nothing."
Boromir still looks unsure, but Aragorn precludes further argument by returning with the athelas. You clean and bind the wound with all the knowledge of healing you gained from studying at Rivendell. By this time Gimli and Legolas have arrived, and they help you transport Boromir back to the original campsite.
Boromir says almost immediately, "My friends, I must confess to you my unspeakable wrongdoing."
"We know, Boromir," Aragorn cuts him off. "I, for my part, forgive you. The ring's power to ensnare the hearts of Men is no secret. You are none the worse for succumbing."
"But what of Frodo? Aniel said he and Sam have gone to Mordor alone. They'll never make it."
"They will," you say patiently. "This was always how it was meant to be, Boromir. We have business elsewhere."
"The orcs have taken the hobbits," Legolas says. "Unless we go after them..."
"We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death, not while we have strength left," Aragorn says firmly. "We will leave with the light."
