*By Sabrin*
"Theirsss they aresss massster."
Gollum crouched, his yellow lamp-like eyes flickering onto Frodo. The Dead Marshes stretched before the four, small lights flickering in the water.
Frodo leaned on Sam, tired and pale. His right hand clutched at the chain holding the ring.
Sam flashed a concerned look at Frodo, followed by a look of suspiciousness onto Gollum.
Siendar stood quietly in the back of the three small hobbits, his gaze fixed on Gollum. It was obvious he didn't trust the creature more than Sam did.
"This place reeks of darkness," Siendar snorted in disgust, "But if we must cross it, then that is what fate permits."
Gollum looked blankly at Siendar, before leading the three into the marshes, "Do not looksss into the lightsss."
The marshes were wet and muddy, the slime seeming to climb up the hobbits. Siendar carried Frodo, who was too tired to walk. Even the gracefully walk of the elf faltered in the marshes.
Sam looked down to see many ghostly white faces staring up at him, each face glowing like a lantern. His gaze became transfixed, and if it weren't for Gollum, he would have been lost.
"Do not looksss into the lightsss. They only seeksss to makesss yousss sink."
Gollum's warning was followed through, and Sam did not look down again. To the company of four, the night was very long and seemed that it would never end.
* * * * *
On the plains of Rohan, Legolas and Jairah rode on Arod. Gandalf led the way on Shadowfax with Gimli and Boromir and Aragorn on his left side.
King Theodain and his army ran in back of Gandalf, the King of course riding by Gandalf's right side.
"I didn't think you would make it," Legolas admitted to Jairah as the company rode on.
"Never give up hope my love," Jairah whispered back in with a smile, "Let us enjoy the time we have here, in each other's company."
Legolas smiled, maybe the ride to Isengard wouldn't be so bad,
* * * * *
Water lapped at Leila and Gwen's feet as the last of the flood subsided. Treebeard was directing Quickbeam and his army of three to guard the northern part of the tower.
Leila's brow furrowed as she examined the damage. Water filled the deep mines where orcs had once worked. Nothing was alive as far as she could see, except for Saruman and Wormtongue, high in the tower of Orthanac.
"Pretty amazing, eh?" Merry's voice drifted from in back of Gwen and Leila.
The two girls turned to smile at the two hobbits.
"Serves them right,' Gwen said almost inaudibly.
Leila registered that she meant the orcs, and she nodded in agreement, "Yeah."
"Treebeard says he is expecting someone, a kin, and wants us to watch the gate," Pippin reported, "Said we could take turns if we wanted to."
The four unanimously decided to stick together, and kept watch at the gate. Leila leaned against an overturned pillar, watching the stars with little interest.
Where was Boromir? She missed the sound of his voice, the feel of his hands, the warmth of his body when he hugged her. He was the only thing she could think of now.
Every since her arrival, she had felt that she was only a burden to the fellowship. Nothing she had done seemed to go right. Looking down at her belt and tattered cloak, Hope catching her eye.
Unsheathing the blade, the moon came out from behind the clouds. Moon runes appeared on the blade, spelling out a message in elvish. Leila gazed fondly at the blade.
Colors of the morning sunrise appeared over the horizon, the moon runes fading. Pippin and Merry came back with four bowls of entwash, which they handed out. Gwen was asleep, and Leila did not take the bowl. She wasn't hungry.
Sighing, Leila looked over the plains, her sword falling to her side. Where ws Bormir? Was Frodo and Sam and Siendar all right? How about Jairah? Would she ever see them again?
A sudden speck on the horizon alerted Leila to that spot. The speck moved closer, and soon revealed to be horses.
"Horses!" Leila shouted, jumping up.
Pippin and Merry looked up, Gwen muttering something and rolling over, still asleep. As the horses came closer, Leila rubbed her eyes.
Gandalf was leading. With…
Leila threw down her sword, running up to the man from Gondor. He saw her, stopped, and almost fell of his horse.
"Boromir!"