** Chapter 6 **




Three days of travel passed, and Azura found herself completely healed in her shoulder. Frodo,though, seemed worst with each passing day, and no one knew why. They had traveled far from Weathertop, where the stone ruins were, and the scenery hadn't changed much, but they had heard their enemy a day ago. A chilling call from one, and a chilling answer, echoing in the distance. The cries had sent chills down Azura's spine, but she mostly ignored them. If they ran into them again, she'd take their heads off.

Now they walked in silence, weary of travel, and Frodo was walking now, but Azura and Sam walked close by and kept careful watch over him. He was pale, and seemed heavily disheartened and weary, but he tried to not let it show to them, much to Azura's dismay. He should have been riding on the horse, but he had said he refused to let them travel another day carrying all of their luggage.

Only the pony seemed cheerful. Ever since the hobbits and Strider left Bree, it's coat seemed glossier, it's slow walk had quickly turned into a happy stride, and his attitude was much more merrier than he was before.

Azura patted Bill's neck, and brushed her hand on his mane. "Such a sweet pony..."She said lightly.

She turned and looked at Frodo whom seemed rather pale. She pulled out her water bottle and offered it to him, but he shook his head 'no'. She frowned then said, "You'd better drink something before you pass out on us!"

He looked at her, in surprise, then smiled lightly, "Alright." And took the bottle, and drank deeply.

Azura smiled, then looked forward to see glittering in the distance. A blue sparkle, all along the horizion. A river.

"Is that a river?" Sam called to Strider, who was several feet ahead of them.

"Yes. It's the river Hoarwell. There should be a bridge." Strider said, puttng a hand over his eyes, blocking the sun so he can see better. "The bridge isn't far."

Sam, Frodo, Merry, and Pippin eyed the approaching river warily. They did not like rivers.

Azura smiled at the glistening water, and suddenly feeling dirty. She hadn't bathed in awhile, and she felt very sweaty.

As they came upon the river, the sun was already high above them, making them all feel rather hot. The river below the steep bank rushed swiftly under the bridge, glittering blue in the bright sunlight.

"It's a rather steady bridge, just watch your step and don't fall. The currents will pull you straight to the bottom." Strider said as he began to carefully lead the pony across the thin rope and wooden plank bridge. The horse's hooves clapped loudly on the wood planks.

After Strider and the pony cleared the bridge, Merry, Sam, and Pippin went next. The held onto each other's jackets, fearful they would fall into the water. They feared drowning because they could not swim. Hobbits could not swim.

"We've cleared!" Pippin called when he reached the other side, with Merry and Sam.

Azura started across the long bridge, then glanced back. Frodo still stood on the bank, unmoving, staring at the water, and seeming more pale in the face than before. She smiled, holding the rope railing. "Come on, it's safe!"

Frodo looked at her for a moment, then started for the bridge and carefully stepped onto it, then taking slow, careful steps across the bridge.

Azura turned forward again and headed across. The bridge swayed gently beneath them, and creaked beneath their steps.

When she reached the middle of the bridge, she heard a loud cracking sound.

"Frodo!!!" Merry, Pippin, and Sam shouted, in unison.

As she turned she heard a splash well below the bridge. She saw Frodo's pack hanging by a jagged, broken plank. She slipped off her pack quickly, and set it down, as well with her sword and scabbard..

She climbed the rope railing and then, to the shock of the other hobbits and Strider, and dove off the bridge, her hands out in front of her.

She broke the surface of the river and dove deep, instantly getting pulled by the current. She kicked her feet and moved up against the current and broke the surface. She saw her companion's shocked faces just before she was pulled around a bend.

She looked about for any sign of Frodo, then was roughly pulled back down in the water. Water stung in her lungs, and she held her breath and kicked frantically in the water. The current pulled and tugged her, pulling her in circles and flipping her up and down, making her dizzy and unaware of which way was up or down.

She kicked furiously, feeling panic inside her. She couldn't drown. And she couldn't let Frodo drown.

She broke the surface of the river. She kicked and kept herself briefly afloat as she coughed up water and breathed in air roughly.

She looked wildly around, trying to find any side of Frodo. She was swiftly being pulled down the river.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw a glint of gold. She turned, then dove deep into the water, after the gold glint. She kicked her feet and moved swiftly along by aid of the current. Soon she saw Frodo, floating limply in the water, being pulled by the current.

She kicked her feet, rocketing after Frodo, flying through the water like a dolphin. She reached her hands out, and scooped her hands beneath his limp arms and pulled him upward, to the surface of the water. She fought against the current that was pulling her down to bring Frodo to the surface.

Just as she broke the surface, Frodo was pulled back under by a powerful current.

Azura didn't bother to take in more air, but dove under after him. She kicked her legs, which now burned with weariness.

She swam after him and clutch her arms around him in a tight embrace and pulled him up to the surface, breaking the surface. She swam to the bank, moving sideways across the current, and pushed him against the bank.

She crawled out, coughing up water and breathing in air, then turned and pulled him onto the steeply slanted bank.

She leaned over him and saw his face was ashen and he was not breathing.

"Wake up!" She shouted, as she pulled him by the jacket up the side of the bank and onto flat ground.

She dropped to her knees and put her ear to his chest. His heart was slowly beating. She sat up then began pushing on his stomach.

He lay still, pale in the face, and wet from head to toe. The gold she had saw glitter was the One Ring, on a necklace around his neck. She continued pushing, trying to get him to cough up the water in his lungs. "Breathe, damn you!" She shouted.

She stared at him as she tried to work the water out of his lungs. His curly dark brown hair was matted to his head from the water, and his clothes were soaked.

For five minutes, she pushed on him, growing more tired and weak with each push. "Breathe! I swear I'll kill you if you don't breathe! " She shouted, upset, and tears stinging her eyes.

Frodo began to cough, water spurting out his mouth and down his cheeks. He raised his arms up over the grass, sliding them a little, as if he was still fighting the current in the river. He coughed and breathed in air.

Azura pulled back, and looked surprised, then leaned down and embraced him tightly.

"Wha...?"He asked, breathing hard, "What happened?"

She pulled back and helped him sit up. "You fell into the river, you oaf!" She replied, smiling, relieved he was ok.

He felt for his ring, and clasped a hand over it, then looked at her. His face was etched in distraught, "Thank you...for.. saving me." He said, between deep breaths.

She smiled, and blushed. "It's nothing," She replied.

"No," He shook his head, "This is the third time you have risked your own life to save mine. I am grateful, yet there is nothing I can do or say to repay you."

She shook her head, and replied, "It's okay. I told you, that's why I came here."

He stared at her for a long time. She was wet, shaking from the cold of the river, and soaked from head to foot. Her hair was matted to her head, and she stared straight back at him.

Azura blushed lightly under his stare. Frodo began to lean towards her when they heard a shout;

"Frodo?! Azura?! Are you there?!"

Frodo shook his head and stood slowly, and shouted weakly, "We are!"

Around a bushy bend, came Sam, Merry, and Pippin running.

Azura blushed brightly, wondering why Frodo was leaning to her, but shook of the thought and smiled at her companions and stood and received many hugs and kisses on the cheek.

"You are well!" Pippin said, hugging Azura tightly, and grinning.

"It gave us such a fright to see you jump into the river!" Sam said, shaking from fear still, as he hugged Azura and kissed her cheek, then went and checked on Frodo.

Merry hugged and kissed Azura's cheek as well, saying, "Are you well? We worried you both would drown."

Azura nodded, still a bit dizzy and shaken, "I am good...I...Frodo needs rest...We should find a place to camp soon or later..."

Sam and Pippin helped Frodo up, and Strider came shortly with the pony.

"We will find shelter for the night, it is unwise to carry on now." Strider said, worried about Azura and Frodo health. "We should make camp and a fire to warm these two up before they catch pneumonia."