#21 Stealing

Watching the young hobbits tramp wearily up the steep incline Boromir found his thoughts drifting back to Gondor as he brought up the rear of the company. He could not help but worry about his home and family and the dire state he had left them in. His brother's face swam before him, pale and covered in mud and blood as he remembered their last battle together and how glad they were just to have survived.

A glint of gold in the sunlight caught his attention as Frodo turned to point out some feature to the wizard currently walking by his side and he scowled. Was this really the path they should be taking? Destroying something with so much power? They should be using it in their fight, the Valar knew his people needed all the help they could get!

His eyes raked Gandalf's form and his scowl deepened. Was the ring really so dangerous, or was it something else the wizard was frightened of? Was he worried that with it people would no longer need his services? That they would realise he was just a meddling old man who knew a few tricks and illusions. His gaze wandered back to Frodo and the object hanging from its chain around his neck. Yes. That was it. There was no danger in using the thing against Sauron. It was only if Sauron used it against them that the problems would arise.

His mind began to race. Here they were, doing their damndest to take the ring towards its master when they should be running with it in the opposite direction. Towards safety. Towards somewhere it could be guarded and used to do good. Towards Gondor. He smiled at the scenes beginning to play through his mind. Of his welcome home, holding the ring, their saviour, aloft. Of armies of orcs and dark creatures laid waste with one command as it sat upon his father's finger. Of the white city prosperous and at peace at long last. Children playing in its streets as soldiers laid down their arms forever and went back to their loving families, hale and whole. This was all he wanted. All he had ever wanted.

His mind cleared and he once more surveyed the company strung out before him. Maybe he could still persuade them… No. They would not listen. They were all too much in awe of the wizard or that blasted ranger. He would have to do this himself. Pick his moment…

Legolas felt a shiver run down his spine and turned to look at the man walking behind him. He did not trust this man of Gondor. Stepping lightly to one side he knelt down to inhale the scent of a celandine and allowed the man to pass before straightening to follow. The man needed an eye keeping on him, he thought to himself as they continued towards the white capped mountains in the distance and that is just what he intended to do.