(Author: Alasia)
Run she did. She ran to the banks if the Anduin,
where Boromir walked, thinking She ran to him, his confusion for her haste
apparent on his face. She didn't speak, just took his hand and walked with
him.
They walked through the Golden Wood, hand in hand.
Leila realized suddenly how much time had passed and grinned to herself.
She'd missed her nineteenth birthday. School would be out now, and she
would be graduated. It was so ironic, she couldn't help but laugh at her
forgetfulness. She leaned her head on Boromir's shoulder, a song intruding
on her thoughts, and she began to sing the chorus softly, unaware of Boromir
listening closely;
"When you are with me
I'm free... I'm careless... I believe
Above all the others we'll fly
This brings tears to my eyes..."
She trailed off, thinking the last two words to herself, "My sacrifice."
Why did those two words hit her so strongly? Was
it because of what she'd left behind? There was nothing in her old world
for except a dingy apartment and memories flooded with orphanages and foster
homes. Then why? And suddenly she understood. She understood what Jairah
had meant by saying that she'd do anything to protect Legolas. And she
realized that since this was love, she knew she'd do the same for Boromir.
These new thoughts plagued her already troubled mind, and she pushed them
away, determined to enjoy her time with the man she loved.
******
Jairah was not as lucky. She did not get to spend
time alone with Legolas. Instead she had spent the last two hours searching
the Golden Wood for Aragorn. "Stubborn man." she thought. Damn
his ability to disappear into thin air!" A soft call to her right informed
her that Legolas had found the subject of their search and she dashed through
the underbrush, and came into the clearing where the two men waited for
her.
"What is this all about Jairah," Legolas said, voicing her question.
"Do you remember when Leila and I talked a couple of nights ago?" She
continued at their nods, "I asked her how she knew of the future, and she
said she could not explain it. So I asked her if she knew what was going
to happen, she said no... Two hours ago she came pounding on my door. She
told me that she had lied when she told me she didn't know what was going
to happen. Then she told me something that makes my heart ache for her...."
Here she fell silent, and Aragorn prompted her to continue, "And?"
"Boromir is going to die."
The silence created by this statement was stifling as Aragorn and Legolas
gaped at her. Jairah sat down on a large rock and rubbed her temples. After
a moment she spoke again, "She said that an army of Uruk-hai - a crossbreed
between goblins and orcs that walk in daylight - was going to attack. And
that they would kill Boromir."
"Did she say when?"
Jairah looked up at Aragorn, "No. I told her to spend the remainder
of our time here with him. Then we came seeking you."
"I have may doubts about Boromir's ability to withstand the ring,"
Legolas said quietly, "But he has proved time and again that his heart
is with the company."
Aragorn nodded, "I pray that his love for Leila, and the love she returns
to him will help him remain strong. I would that we try to save him, if
not for our sake, then for Leila's - For she would surely die of a broken
heart if he were killed."
"I will speak with Leila about the time while we ride the river tomorrow,
"Jairah said, "But now, let us create a plan."
******
Their travel down the river was silent in the beginning,
as they all felt the weight of the burden they carried on their shoulders.
(The fate of the world is a lot to handle) At the front was Aragorn with
Frodo, Sam and Pippin, then came Legolas with Jairah and Leila, then, last,
was Boromir with Gimli and Merry. Every few minutes Leila's eyes would
flicker over the western shore in fear of what was to come. Jairah sat
in silence in front of Legolas, watching the other woman carefully.
"Leila?"
She turned, and Jairah continued, "We need to know when -"
She was cut off as Leila held up a silencing hand, already knowing
what the elf would say, and spoke, "Shortly after we make camp Boromir
will go in search of firewood. Frodo will disappear and we will split up
to look for him. That is when the Uruk-hai will attack. Boromir will fight
with all he has to protect Merry and Pippin. It will take three arrows
to make him fall... But he will fall nonetheless."
The detailed description of what was to happen shocked Legolas to no
end, for he had expected something more along the lines of 'sometime after
dinner'. "How do you know this?" He questioned, "It seems almost as though
you read all of this from a book."
"I did...."