by Blanton Cirith~
Chapter 5
Disclaimer: See chapter 1
SideNote: Pretty much the beginning of this chapter is from the book, because I need it's plot for a little bit. At the end of the chapter, it is all different, but until *cough* *mumble* happens, can't change much. The plot must remain the same as the book for half of this chapter. I have tons of ideas for the next couple chapters, but I need a way to get there. so, half of this chapter is basically taken from the book with some minor changes. So, with that said, don't flame me about it.
SideNote II: a 'harchen' is a way of measuring distance that i made up. It's about the equivalent of half a mile.
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"The day has come," Aragorn said. "The day of choice which we have long delayed. What shall now become of our Company that has traveled so far in fellowship? Shall we turn west with Boromir and go to the wars of Gondor; or turn east to the Fear and Shadow; or shall we break our fellowship and go this way and that as each may choose? Whatever we do must be done soon. We cannot long halt here. The enemy is on the eastern shore, we know; but I fear the Orcs may already be on this side of the water."
Legolas appeared from the trees, and sat by Pippin and Boromir. There was a long silence in which no one spoke or moved.
"Well, Frodo," said Aragorn at last. "I fear that the burden is laid upon you. You are the Bearer appointed by the Council. Your own way you alone can chose. In this matter I cannot advise you. I am not Gandalf, and though I have tried to bear his part, I do not know what design or hope he had for this hour, if indeed he had any. Most likely it seems that if he were here now the choice would still weight on you. Such is your fate."
Frodo did not answer at once. Then he spoke slowly. "I know that haste is needed, yet I cannot choose. The burden is heavy. Give me an hour longer, and I will speak. Let me be alone."
Aragorn looked at him with kindly pity. "Very well, Frodo. You shall have an hour, and you shall be alone. We will stay here for a while. But do not stray far out of call."
Presently Frodo got up and walked away; and Sam saw that while the others restrained themselves and did not stare at him, the eyes of Boromir followed Frodo intently, until he passed out of sight in the trees at the foot of Amon Hen.
"I assume you told Winters she could return, Legolas?" Aragorn said.
Legolas was staring ahead in deep thought. After a moment, he answered.
"Yes...she has gone."
* * * *
'There he goes,' Winters thought to herself. 'You are being sent back to Lorien...'
Winters somberly walked over next to the ruins of the fire, and picked up her pack. When she looked up, she noticed Boromir creeping through the trees, almost as if he were hunting something...or someone.
With her pack in hand, she stood looking both directions: back toward Lorien, and the direction Legolas had gone. She shook her head, as if having a quarrel in her mind, and set off at a quick pace in the direction Legolas had gone.
'Why should I abandon them now? Lorien is a luxury they cannot afford. What right have I to indulge in it?' she said; arguing to herself.
Not before long, she heard a voice. It was that of Sam Gamgee. She followed his voice until she came to where they were seated.
"I don't think you understand my master at all," Sam said. "He isn't hesitating about which way to go. Ofcourse not! What's the good of Minas Tirith anyway? To him, I mean, begging your pardon Master Boromir...Now where's he got to? He's been a bit queer lately, to my mind."
"I saw him about a harchen from here," Winters said calmly as she emerged from the trees.
"Winters?" Aragorn exclaimed; surprised that she was there.
Legolas jumped up and his eyes widened.
"Winters, what are you doing here? You'll be safe in Lorien!" Legolas cried.
"And leave you all to go on alone? Never. I have come this far, and more than once I have owed my life to you, Legolas."
"You have no debt to me. You are only putting yourself at risk coming with us!" Legolas replied.
"What if I told you I did not wish to return to Lorien? What if I wished only to proceed with all of you on your quest? You would not keep me back, would you?"
"No woman shall come with us! I won't allow it!" Gimli shouted, jumping up.
"I agree. It is not safe for you," Legolas cried. He walked over to her and rested his hand on her shoulder.
"Please be reasonable about this. It will be a dangerous journey; one which you may not return from," he said in a more soothing voice.
"Legolas, I know the risk. I have given much thought to my decision, but it has already been made," she answered.
Legolas sighed, and turned to Aragorn. "You are the leader of the Company, Aragorn. What do you have to say?"
He was silent for a few moments, then he spoke. "I doubt she will return to Lorien, even if we ordered her to. Am I correct in saying this?"
"Yes, quite so," she replied.
"So, if we continue onward, she would only follow behind us since she will not go back. Therefore, it would be safer for her to travel with us. Is this satisfactory, Winters?" he said with a smile.
"More than satisfactory," Winters said.
At that moment, Boromir reappeared. He came out from the trees and walked towards them without speaking. His face looked grim and sad. He paused as if counting those that were present, and then sat down aloof, with his eyes on the ground.
"Where have you been?" asked Aragorn. "Have you seen Frodo?"
Boromir hesitated for a second. "Yes. I found him some way up the hill, and I spoke to him. I urged him to go to Minas Tirith and not to the east. I grew angry and he left me. He vanished. He must have put the ring on. I could not find him again. I thought he would return to you."
"This is bad!" cried Sam, jumping up. "I don't know what this Man has been up to. Why should Mr. Frodo put the thing on? He didn't ought to have; and if he has, goodness knows what may have happened."
"But where did he go? Where is he?" cried Pippin. "He's been away ages now."
"How long is it since you saw Frodo last, Boromir?" asked Winters.
"Half an hour maybe," he answered. "Or it might be an hour. I have wandered for some time since. I do not know! I do not know!" He put his head in his hands, and sat as if bowed with grief.
"We must try and find him! Come on!" Sam yelled.
"Wait a moment!" cried Aragorn. "We must divide up into pairs, and arrange-here, hold on! Wait!"
It was no use. They took no notice of him. Sam had run off Northward. Merry, Pippin, and Winters had dashed away, and Gimli and Legolas were running.
"We shall all be scattered and lost," groaned Aragorn. "Boromir, I do not know what part you have played in this mischief, but help now! Go after Winters and those two young hobbits, and guard them at the least, even if you cannot find Frodo." With that, Aragorn started off towards the Seat of Amon Hen, to see what may be seen from there.
He was almost to the high seat, and then he stopped and hesitated. He wanted to proceed there and see if there would be anything to aid him, but time was pressing. He decided against waiting, and ran toward the summit. Even as he gazed, his ears caught sounds in the woodlands below, on the west side of the river. They were that of Orcs; and all of a sudden, the horn of Boromir could be heard clearly, sounding for help.
"The horn of Boromir! He is in need!" Aragorn said frantically to himself.
He dashed down from the high seat of Amon Hen, and dashed through the trees. The voices grew nearer, but at the same time dimmer as they ran away. Then, the calls from the horn ceased. Aragorn unsheathed Anduril, and was ready to strike when he came to the clearing, and he saw many Orc carcasses laying strewn about the ground. Boromir was sitting propped up by a tree, as if resting. Aragorn could see he was pierced by several black-feathered arrows; his sword was still in hand, but it was broken at the hilts. His horn lay cloven in two at his side.
Aragorn knelt beside him. Boromir opened his eyes and strove to speak. At last slow words came.
"I tried to take the Ring from Frodo. I am sorry. I have paid."
His glance strayed to his fallen enemies; twenty atleast lay there.
"They have gone. The Halflings. And Winters. I do not think they are dead. Orcs bound them. The hobbits were taken Westward. Other orcs and goblins took Winters south. I know not where." He paused and his eyes closed wearily. After a moment he spoke again.
"Farewell, Aragorn. Go to Minas Tirith and save my people! I have failed."
"No!" said Aragorn, taking his hand and kissing his brow. "You have conquered. Few have gained such a victory. Be at peace! Minas Tirith shall not fall!"
Boromir smiled at this, and his eyes closed once more.
"Was Frodo with them? And Sam?" asked Aragorn. But Boromir did not speak again.
Aragorn bent his head in grief, and remained by Boromir's side for a while.
Finally, Legolas and Gimli returned and saw Boromir's lifeless body by Aragorn. Gimli shook his head and Legolas closed his eyes, trying to accept the fact that Boromir was dead, and the bearer and ring were missing.
"Are you hurt?" Gimli asked, slowly making his way to his friend's side.
Aragorn was silent, and for a moment none of them spoke. Then, Aragorn found the will to break the piercing silence.
"I am unscathed; for I was not here when they attacked. Boromir said the Orcs bounded Winters, Merry, and Pippin.
"Where did they take them?" Legolas asked quickly with a step forward.
"That is the problem," Aragorn answered, and let out a sigh. His face was grim and saddened; and Legolas knew the answer would not be a pleasant one. "Boromir said a group of Orcs took the hobbits westward; while some other orcs and goblins took Winters south."
"But why?" Legolas said with a shout.
"I know not. It puzzles me to no end. What puzzles me even more is that the orcs bound them. Orcs would usually kill such prey; not bound them. They were obviously looking for hobbits to begin with. The dark lord has spies everywhere. He must have discovered we were at the Great River and Amon Hen." Aragorn explained.
"One thing is for certain. We cannot abandon them." Gimli stated.
"Certainly not," Aragorn replied. "And we cannot leave Boromir among such foul orc corpses. But time is pressing. We could place him in one of the boats, and let the river take him."
"Yes, we have not much time," Gimli stated, and Gimli and Aragorn carried Boromir's body to the river, and placed him in one of the boats. Legolas had carried Boromir's sword and horn with him, and placed the sword beside him. He then placed the broken horn on his chest, and Aragorn took his lifeless hand.
"Goodbye, my friend," he whispered, and pushed the boat into the water. The current took him, and soon Boromir disappeared into the distance. Gimli began to walk somberly away from the bank,when he noticed there was only one other boat. Aragorn had noticed it as well, and glanced around him trying to locate it. He then smiled, and turned to his two companions.
"It would seem that Frodo escaped after all. Hopefully, he took Sam with him," Aragorn stated.
"A relief that is to my ears," Gimli said joyously.
They returned to where Boromir had fallen, and Legolas spoke.
"We must go after the rest of the Company. They are in danger, and there is no leaving them!"
"What of Frodo? We could not abandon him either," Gimli said.
"He is long gone by now. He and Sam are on their own. They have chosen their path already. The others were taken by force!" Legolas replied gravely.
"Legolas is right. The ring has gone beyond our reach. We must look forward, and choose the path which is just and right; either west or south?" Aragorn said.
"But the hobbits and Winters were taken separate ways. Which should we pursue?" Gimli asked. "The hobbits: who we have traveled with since Rivendell and were appointed by Gandalf, and who you, Aragorn, have known longer than any of us. You met them and took them under your company in Bree. Or shall we pursue Winters: a solitary maiden of whom we hardly know, and was but a guide for the river."
"You speak of what you do not know!" Legolas said. "To you, she may be but a mere guide, but have you no heart? She is a lost and confused woman taken prisoner by an enemy she has done no harm to. Atleast the hobbits have harmed the darkness in some way. But she has done nothing to deserve this!"
"And you think those innocent hobbits do deserve it?" Gimli growled.
"No, I did not say that. None of them deserve this cruel fate. I was just showing you that Winters should not be pushed aside in this decision," he answered.
"What shall you have us do, then? Abandon the hobbits?" Aragorn asked. "Who is she to you?"
Legolas bowed his head and closed his eyes; thinking about what had occurred that day, and remembering his land of Mirkwood of which he wished he had never left. More than anything, he could imagine Winters; his Winters being taken away screaming by orcs and goblins, tortured and interrogated because of his deeds and those of the fellowship. It was like a harsh screech in his mind, and he looked back up at Aragorn.
"I....I..." he studdered, and his train of thought faltered. He shook his head, as if arguing with himself. "She is such a sweet thing. I would hate for anything more to happen to her."
"As much as I agree with you, we cannot forget that the hobbits have been with us since the beginning, and were appointed by Gandalf. They stood steadfast by me at Bree, Weathertop, Caradhras, Moria, and every other time we have needed them. How would we leave them? I am not immoral; I would never wish for a maiden such as her, or anyone for that matter, to be in her situation. But we must choose one route. The lives of two are more than the life of one....oh, this is a wicked and evil choice to make! If Gandalf were here, which path would seem wiser to him?" Aragorn asked.
"But Gandalf is not here," Gimli stated. "We mustn't depend on what Gandalf's judgment may have been if he were present. Aragorn, you are the leader of the Company now. Your decision is our decision."
"And all my decisions have gone amiss! Vain was Gandalf's trust in me." Aragorn sat and buried his face in his hands. Deep thought overcame him, and finally he looked at them.
"So it is up to me..." Aragorn whispered.
Aragorn looked south in the direction Winters had been taken, and then westward toward where the hobbits had gone.
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I realize this chapter wasn't that good because it was half taken from the book, and i also had nothing to work with the rest of the time. Until they make their decision, nothing much exciting can happen. By the way: the decision is next chapter.
I love leaving you people hanging by threads at the ends of chapters. :) i know: i'm evil.
expect chapter 6 really soon.