Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Tolkein characters, or any of the passages from LOTR book. However, Casey is mine. All mine! Mwahaha!!
A/N: I'll probably be mixing the movie and book storylines together, since I can't actually remember the movie that well cause I saw it in the theatre ages ago and I have the memory of a goldfish.
This is a really, really, *really* long chapter, cause I want them to get out of Moria [c'mon, they've been in there for about three chapters already! Don't you guys wanna see some Frodo/Casey action soon?]
To the reviewers: Thank you peeps! And to Lady Brandybuck, I think there is a severe lack of Dominic Monaghan stories! Poor Dom! And hello to all the Casey/Kacey/Kaci's out there! [he, my dad's called KC too actually...]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Stay close to Gandalf!" cried Aragorn, as he flung a lit torch to the ground, beside their discarded packs and cloaks. He unsheathed his sword, Andruil.
The hobbits and angel clustered closer to the wizard, and all unsheathed their swords; Gandalf's sword was Glamdring, Frodo's was Sting, now glowing blue, the hobbits' were the swords from the Barrow-downs and Casey's was a slim, curved dagger that Legolas had just thrown to her.
"I can't fight!" she cried, as she missed the dagger being thrown at her, and bent down to pick it up.
"You'll learn," the elf replied, as he hurried to help Boromir and Aragorn bar the door.
"Casey, where are you? I cannot see you," whispered Merry. Casey realized that it was much brighter in this room than the rest of the Mines.
"She's right next to you," replied Frodo. The Ring had increased his senses, and, although they could not rival Legolas', Frodo could just see Casey.
Gimli leapt onto the tomb and let out a snarl, which frightened Sam so much, he squealed and leapt closer to Frodo.
"Let them come!" Gimli cried. "There is still one dwarf left in Moria that still draws breath!"
"Get off me Sam."
"Sorry."
Aragorn and Boromir were shutting the door, when Boromir peeked out. Several arrows whizzed past him, and lodged themselves in the door, inches away from his head.
"Yrch!" cried Legolas, lapsing into his native tongue.
"Eurgh? Huh?" asked Casey.
"He means orcs, in Elvish," whispered Frodo.
"Yes, and they have a cave troll too," replied Boromir, catching the axes that Legolas had thrown to him and barring the door with them.
When the door was shut firmly, the Fellowship prepared for the attack. Aragorn and Legolas drew their bowstrings back, and whenever a foot or hand poked through, an arrow would push it further back.
The door could not be held for much longer - soon, the onslaught of orcs crashed through. All hell broke loose.
"For the Shire!" cried Pippin, as he raised his short sword and leapt forward.
"For Bilbo!" cried Frodo, as he joined Pippin with Sting.
"For Rosie...oops," cried Merry, as Sam gave him an angry glance.
"You should say Mr. Frodo instead," said Merry sneakily. Sam bitch-slapped Merry.
"For Middle-Earth," murmured Casey, as the first orc came towards her, his teeth baring and snarling. Her courage wavered slightly, as she grew scared.
Nervously, she pointed the dagger at the orc. To her immense surprise, the orc flew backwards, and bowled over several others. The fall wasn't enough to kill it outright, but had stunned and injured the orc and others.
"Phew, that was close," thought Casey, as another orc crept up behind her. She sensed the orc, even before it could raise its weapon to strike her. Whirling around, she thrust the dagger into its stomach, only to see its foul, black blood oozing out.
"Eurgh," said Casey, a wave of nausea passing over her. She felt rather faint and she leaned against the wall for support, with one hand over her mouth.
By now, most of the orcs had either been slain, or had fled in fear. Boromir paused to sweep his hair back, before attacking another orc, when suddenly, a loud thud could be heard.
And another thud. And more thuds, getting closer and closer. Sam, who was standing close to the door, saw it first.
"Eep," said Pippin.
"Oh great, a cave troll," muttered Casey.
The troll roared angrily at them all, before picking up the chain and whirling it around, so that the orc on the other end flew away, and hit the wall with a sickening crunch.
It lurched forward for Sam, who slid under its legs. The troll then turned its attention to Legolas, and later, when the elf had injected an arrow into its head, the three other hobbits.
Casey was preoccupied with helping Boromir tackle several orcs, that she didn't notice the orc cornering Frodo, or Aragorn being flung aside.
All she heard was Frodo's cry of pain, as the spear pierced through him.
"Frodo!" she cried, as she ran across the chamber, stumbling over the odd dead orc.
Aragorn came back to life, as he drove the troll further into the centre of the chamber, while Merry and Pippin leapt on top of it, crying vengeance for their fallen friend.
Casey beat Sam to Frodo, and was cradling his soft head in her arms.
"Oh, poor Mr. Frodo," said Sam, tears falling from his eyes.
Silence fell among those in the chamber, as the troll took its last breath and fell with another mighty thud.
Pippin came forward, with the others following close behind.
"Is he..." The hobbit's voice trailed off, as he saw Frodo lying on the ground.
Casey was about to speak, when Frodo's eyes suddenly fluttered open. The hobbits squealed for joy, and gathered around Frodo.
"I'm alright," Frodo said, breathlessly. He looked up into the eyes of Casey.
Aragorn picked up the spear.
"You should have been killed! This would have skewered a wild boar!"
"I think that there is more than what meets the eye," said Gandalf coming forward.
Frodo undid his shirt, a little reluctantly, revealing the mithril coat hidden under it.
"Mithril," said Gimli, drawing in his breath sharply. The Moria-silver sparkled slightly, as Sam reached out a hand to touch it.
"More costly than the whole of the Shire," murmured Aragorn.
"I suppose Bilbo gave it to you? Thorin gave it to him," said Gandalf.
"A most kingly gift," said Gimli, still in awe.
Frodo nodded, and began to button up his shirt again. He winced slightly.
"Are you bruised?" asked Casey, as the others began to pick up any discarded weapons.
Frodo nodded again, and pointed to the area of pain. He found breathing too painful, and could not yet speak as he was badly winded. Casey laid a hand on his side. Her warmth seeped in, and Frodo blushed a little at the lack of distance between them.
Legolas paused from collecting arrows, and looked over at the pair. He could see Casey more clearly than Frodo could, and another pang of jealously made his heart tremble. He turned away.
Presently, the pain lessened, and Casey stood up, and put out one hand to help Frodo up.
If the Fellowship thought they were safe, they were very wrong.
"Quick!" cried Gandalf. "To the Bridge of Khazad-Dûm!"
They hurried out of the Chamber of Records, and started to make their way down the Great Hall.
They were halted by a growing number of orcs, which surrounded them and enclosed them in. They came from below the ground, through the ceiling, everywhere. The Fellowship grew nervous, their weapons at the ready. The only light came from Gandalf's staff, and even this seemed to be faltering and fading.
Over a million orcs by now had surrounded them, shrieking in near-victory. Just then, a loud roar was heard, and flames could be seen illuminating corridors from where they had just come from.
The orcs and goblins shrieked in terror and dismay at every thud, and scampered off, shrieking, "Ghâsh! Ghâsh!" as they went.
"Yay!" said Pippin, thinking that he had scared them off.
"What is it?" asked Aragorn.
"Why are they screaming about fire?" asked Gimli
Gandalf closed his eyes in deep concentration.
"There is some new devilry here, " Gandalf said, "devised for our welcome no doubt. But look!"
Just then, the silhouette of whatever it was illuminated the corridor. A red glow mirrored all the columns, and tongues of flames with wisps of dark smoke wavered in the air. Legolas was quick to guess.
"Ai! Ai!" wailed Legolas. Casey turned sharply to face him, surprised that he was talking like a Japanese cartoon character.
"A Balrog! A Balrog has come!" he continued.
Gimli stared with wide eyes. "Durin's Bane!" he cried.
Gandalf nodded. "A Balrog, woken by the dwarves as they delved too deep. Run!"
The hobbits jumped up, and as fast as their shorts legs could carry them, ran behind the others. Boromir was in the lead, and as he exited the Hall and ran down a flight of stairs, he suddenly halted, and let go of the torch he was holding. The stairs mysteriously swerved to the side, and did not go downwards in a straight line. Legolas caught him just in time, and the others nearly crashed into them.
"Lead them on!" cried Gandalf, pushing Aragorn forward.
"But - " started Aragorn.
"Swords are no more use here!" Gandalf said, with an unknown fire in his eyes. "Now go!"
In single file they ran down the stairs, looking over the edge at the steep fall below in horror. There was a gap in the stone stairs, which Legolas leapt over with ease.
"Come, Casey." The angel, now seen clearly by all, leapt forward and was caught in Legolas' arms. She disentangled herself hurriedly.
"Now you Gandalf."
The wizard leapt over. Next came Boromir, with Merry and Pippin tucked under both arms. Aragorn picked up Sam and threw him over. He was reaching over for Gimli, when the dwarf stepped away from him.
"Nobody tosses a dwarf!" he cried. With that, he attempted to cross the gap, but misjudged the distance, and would have fallen over had Legolas not grabbed him by his beard. As Aragorn and Frodo were about to leap over, a mighty roar came from the doorway, which they had entered from. Hurriedly, Aragorn leaped over with Frodo in his arms - just in time, for the staircase behind them collapsed.
Several orcs shot arrows at them as they carried on their journey downwards, but thanks to Legolas, most were killed swiftly before the Fellowship had even reached the bottom of the winding staircase.
Soon, they reached the Bridge of Khazad-Dûm, a single stone ledge stretching across a yawning chasm, used as a form of defence for the dwarves before. Gandalf urged them all across, in single file. Casey felt dizzy, discovering at the worst moment possible her fear of heights. She stumbled, and would have fallen over but Legolas caught her and carried her to the other side. Gandalf followed last, and stopped in the middle of the bridge.
The Balrog reached the bridge. Gandalf stood in the middle of the span, leaning on the staff in his left hand but in his other hand Glamdring gleamed, cold and white. His enemy halted, facing him, and the shadow about it reached out like two vast wings. It raised the whip and fire came from its nostrils.
But Gandalf stood firm.
"You cannot pass. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass."
The Balrog roared in answer. It stepped slowly on to the bridge, and suddenly it drew itself up to a great height, and its wings were spread from wall to wall; but still Gandalf could be seen, glimmering in the gloom, with a white orb of light surrounding him.
From out of the shadow a red sword leaped flaming. Glamdring glittered white in answer.
There was a ringing clash and a stab of white fire.
"You shall not pass!" cried Gandalf again, and bringing his sword and staff together, he slammed them to the ground at the same time.
The Balrog roared, flames erupting from its mouth. It moved closer to Gandalf, but the bridge under it suddenly crumbled. It fell, taking the Balrog with it.
Gandalf sighed, weary. He turned and was walking back to his companions when the Balrog's whip curled about the wizard's foot, and dragged him to the edge.
He staggered and fell, grasped vainly at the stone, and slid into the abyss.
"Fly, you fools!" he cried, and he was gone.
"Nooo!" cried Frodo, with Boromir holding him back. Boromir picked up Frodo, and began to lead the others out of the mines, with the rest following close behind, blinded by tears.
The bright sunshine pierced their eyes, as they left the gloom of the mines. Frodo looked around for Casey. She was walking out of the mines, when it suddenly seemed as if the Sun's rays had engulfed her. She disappeared from his sight entirely. He felt sad, but knew that she would always be around him.
He wandered to the edge of the rocky hillside. The others had scattered, the hobbits crying while Boromir was holding Gimli back, who had insisted on going back to find Gandalf.
"Come Legolas, the map," said Aragorn, wiping his blade on a rag. Legolas' large blue eyes were filled with tears. He took the map out of a pack, and patted Sam comfortingly on the back.
"Legolas," came Aragorn's authoritative voice again. The elf turned and handed the map over to him.
"For pity's sake, let them have a moment's peace!" cried Boromir.
"We cannot linger here. By nightfall these hills will be swarming with orcs! Come, get up." He lifted Sam to his feet.
"Frodo, Frodo!" Aragorn cried. The ring bearer had wandered to the edge of the cliff. Near him, Aragorn's sharp Ranger eyes detected Casey standing nearby, with her dress billowing in the wind. She had one hand resting on the hobbit's shoulder.
What they were saying, Aragorn could not hear. To anyone, it would look as if they were sister and brother. But Aragorn was not anyone, and he knew better.
"I am glad you're here with me, even though I cannot see you clearly," said Frodo softly, breaking their silence. Casey remained silent, but smiled.
She wrapped her arms around Frodo in an embrace, and kissed him gently on the cheek. Frodo's pale cheek blossomed pink after her lips left it. They remained still for a while, Frodo crying softly into Casey's shoulder. After he had no more tears left to cry, Casey wiped away his tears with her left hand, her other arm still wrapped around Frodo. Reluctantly, Frodo stepped out of her embrace. She took his hand and led him back to the others.
Aragorn smiled to himself, and ran back, before they could see him. Just looking at the two of them reminded him of Arwen Evenstar and himself.
"Arwen vanimelda, namarïe!" he murmured under his breath, his fingers stroking the necklace that Arwen had given him.
"Where to now?" asked Gimli, as they put on their packs.
"We make for the woods of Lothlòrien," replied Aragorn.
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A/N: Phew! :::sweatdrop::: That tired me out completely! Now I'm just going to carry on reading LOTR... I'm on Two Towers now!
A/N: I'll probably be mixing the movie and book storylines together, since I can't actually remember the movie that well cause I saw it in the theatre ages ago and I have the memory of a goldfish.
This is a really, really, *really* long chapter, cause I want them to get out of Moria [c'mon, they've been in there for about three chapters already! Don't you guys wanna see some Frodo/Casey action soon?]
To the reviewers: Thank you peeps! And to Lady Brandybuck, I think there is a severe lack of Dominic Monaghan stories! Poor Dom! And hello to all the Casey/Kacey/Kaci's out there! [he, my dad's called KC too actually...]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Stay close to Gandalf!" cried Aragorn, as he flung a lit torch to the ground, beside their discarded packs and cloaks. He unsheathed his sword, Andruil.
The hobbits and angel clustered closer to the wizard, and all unsheathed their swords; Gandalf's sword was Glamdring, Frodo's was Sting, now glowing blue, the hobbits' were the swords from the Barrow-downs and Casey's was a slim, curved dagger that Legolas had just thrown to her.
"I can't fight!" she cried, as she missed the dagger being thrown at her, and bent down to pick it up.
"You'll learn," the elf replied, as he hurried to help Boromir and Aragorn bar the door.
"Casey, where are you? I cannot see you," whispered Merry. Casey realized that it was much brighter in this room than the rest of the Mines.
"She's right next to you," replied Frodo. The Ring had increased his senses, and, although they could not rival Legolas', Frodo could just see Casey.
Gimli leapt onto the tomb and let out a snarl, which frightened Sam so much, he squealed and leapt closer to Frodo.
"Let them come!" Gimli cried. "There is still one dwarf left in Moria that still draws breath!"
"Get off me Sam."
"Sorry."
Aragorn and Boromir were shutting the door, when Boromir peeked out. Several arrows whizzed past him, and lodged themselves in the door, inches away from his head.
"Yrch!" cried Legolas, lapsing into his native tongue.
"Eurgh? Huh?" asked Casey.
"He means orcs, in Elvish," whispered Frodo.
"Yes, and they have a cave troll too," replied Boromir, catching the axes that Legolas had thrown to him and barring the door with them.
When the door was shut firmly, the Fellowship prepared for the attack. Aragorn and Legolas drew their bowstrings back, and whenever a foot or hand poked through, an arrow would push it further back.
The door could not be held for much longer - soon, the onslaught of orcs crashed through. All hell broke loose.
"For the Shire!" cried Pippin, as he raised his short sword and leapt forward.
"For Bilbo!" cried Frodo, as he joined Pippin with Sting.
"For Rosie...oops," cried Merry, as Sam gave him an angry glance.
"You should say Mr. Frodo instead," said Merry sneakily. Sam bitch-slapped Merry.
"For Middle-Earth," murmured Casey, as the first orc came towards her, his teeth baring and snarling. Her courage wavered slightly, as she grew scared.
Nervously, she pointed the dagger at the orc. To her immense surprise, the orc flew backwards, and bowled over several others. The fall wasn't enough to kill it outright, but had stunned and injured the orc and others.
"Phew, that was close," thought Casey, as another orc crept up behind her. She sensed the orc, even before it could raise its weapon to strike her. Whirling around, she thrust the dagger into its stomach, only to see its foul, black blood oozing out.
"Eurgh," said Casey, a wave of nausea passing over her. She felt rather faint and she leaned against the wall for support, with one hand over her mouth.
By now, most of the orcs had either been slain, or had fled in fear. Boromir paused to sweep his hair back, before attacking another orc, when suddenly, a loud thud could be heard.
And another thud. And more thuds, getting closer and closer. Sam, who was standing close to the door, saw it first.
"Eep," said Pippin.
"Oh great, a cave troll," muttered Casey.
The troll roared angrily at them all, before picking up the chain and whirling it around, so that the orc on the other end flew away, and hit the wall with a sickening crunch.
It lurched forward for Sam, who slid under its legs. The troll then turned its attention to Legolas, and later, when the elf had injected an arrow into its head, the three other hobbits.
Casey was preoccupied with helping Boromir tackle several orcs, that she didn't notice the orc cornering Frodo, or Aragorn being flung aside.
All she heard was Frodo's cry of pain, as the spear pierced through him.
"Frodo!" she cried, as she ran across the chamber, stumbling over the odd dead orc.
Aragorn came back to life, as he drove the troll further into the centre of the chamber, while Merry and Pippin leapt on top of it, crying vengeance for their fallen friend.
Casey beat Sam to Frodo, and was cradling his soft head in her arms.
"Oh, poor Mr. Frodo," said Sam, tears falling from his eyes.
Silence fell among those in the chamber, as the troll took its last breath and fell with another mighty thud.
Pippin came forward, with the others following close behind.
"Is he..." The hobbit's voice trailed off, as he saw Frodo lying on the ground.
Casey was about to speak, when Frodo's eyes suddenly fluttered open. The hobbits squealed for joy, and gathered around Frodo.
"I'm alright," Frodo said, breathlessly. He looked up into the eyes of Casey.
Aragorn picked up the spear.
"You should have been killed! This would have skewered a wild boar!"
"I think that there is more than what meets the eye," said Gandalf coming forward.
Frodo undid his shirt, a little reluctantly, revealing the mithril coat hidden under it.
"Mithril," said Gimli, drawing in his breath sharply. The Moria-silver sparkled slightly, as Sam reached out a hand to touch it.
"More costly than the whole of the Shire," murmured Aragorn.
"I suppose Bilbo gave it to you? Thorin gave it to him," said Gandalf.
"A most kingly gift," said Gimli, still in awe.
Frodo nodded, and began to button up his shirt again. He winced slightly.
"Are you bruised?" asked Casey, as the others began to pick up any discarded weapons.
Frodo nodded again, and pointed to the area of pain. He found breathing too painful, and could not yet speak as he was badly winded. Casey laid a hand on his side. Her warmth seeped in, and Frodo blushed a little at the lack of distance between them.
Legolas paused from collecting arrows, and looked over at the pair. He could see Casey more clearly than Frodo could, and another pang of jealously made his heart tremble. He turned away.
Presently, the pain lessened, and Casey stood up, and put out one hand to help Frodo up.
If the Fellowship thought they were safe, they were very wrong.
"Quick!" cried Gandalf. "To the Bridge of Khazad-Dûm!"
They hurried out of the Chamber of Records, and started to make their way down the Great Hall.
They were halted by a growing number of orcs, which surrounded them and enclosed them in. They came from below the ground, through the ceiling, everywhere. The Fellowship grew nervous, their weapons at the ready. The only light came from Gandalf's staff, and even this seemed to be faltering and fading.
Over a million orcs by now had surrounded them, shrieking in near-victory. Just then, a loud roar was heard, and flames could be seen illuminating corridors from where they had just come from.
The orcs and goblins shrieked in terror and dismay at every thud, and scampered off, shrieking, "Ghâsh! Ghâsh!" as they went.
"Yay!" said Pippin, thinking that he had scared them off.
"What is it?" asked Aragorn.
"Why are they screaming about fire?" asked Gimli
Gandalf closed his eyes in deep concentration.
"There is some new devilry here, " Gandalf said, "devised for our welcome no doubt. But look!"
Just then, the silhouette of whatever it was illuminated the corridor. A red glow mirrored all the columns, and tongues of flames with wisps of dark smoke wavered in the air. Legolas was quick to guess.
"Ai! Ai!" wailed Legolas. Casey turned sharply to face him, surprised that he was talking like a Japanese cartoon character.
"A Balrog! A Balrog has come!" he continued.
Gimli stared with wide eyes. "Durin's Bane!" he cried.
Gandalf nodded. "A Balrog, woken by the dwarves as they delved too deep. Run!"
The hobbits jumped up, and as fast as their shorts legs could carry them, ran behind the others. Boromir was in the lead, and as he exited the Hall and ran down a flight of stairs, he suddenly halted, and let go of the torch he was holding. The stairs mysteriously swerved to the side, and did not go downwards in a straight line. Legolas caught him just in time, and the others nearly crashed into them.
"Lead them on!" cried Gandalf, pushing Aragorn forward.
"But - " started Aragorn.
"Swords are no more use here!" Gandalf said, with an unknown fire in his eyes. "Now go!"
In single file they ran down the stairs, looking over the edge at the steep fall below in horror. There was a gap in the stone stairs, which Legolas leapt over with ease.
"Come, Casey." The angel, now seen clearly by all, leapt forward and was caught in Legolas' arms. She disentangled herself hurriedly.
"Now you Gandalf."
The wizard leapt over. Next came Boromir, with Merry and Pippin tucked under both arms. Aragorn picked up Sam and threw him over. He was reaching over for Gimli, when the dwarf stepped away from him.
"Nobody tosses a dwarf!" he cried. With that, he attempted to cross the gap, but misjudged the distance, and would have fallen over had Legolas not grabbed him by his beard. As Aragorn and Frodo were about to leap over, a mighty roar came from the doorway, which they had entered from. Hurriedly, Aragorn leaped over with Frodo in his arms - just in time, for the staircase behind them collapsed.
Several orcs shot arrows at them as they carried on their journey downwards, but thanks to Legolas, most were killed swiftly before the Fellowship had even reached the bottom of the winding staircase.
Soon, they reached the Bridge of Khazad-Dûm, a single stone ledge stretching across a yawning chasm, used as a form of defence for the dwarves before. Gandalf urged them all across, in single file. Casey felt dizzy, discovering at the worst moment possible her fear of heights. She stumbled, and would have fallen over but Legolas caught her and carried her to the other side. Gandalf followed last, and stopped in the middle of the bridge.
The Balrog reached the bridge. Gandalf stood in the middle of the span, leaning on the staff in his left hand but in his other hand Glamdring gleamed, cold and white. His enemy halted, facing him, and the shadow about it reached out like two vast wings. It raised the whip and fire came from its nostrils.
But Gandalf stood firm.
"You cannot pass. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass."
The Balrog roared in answer. It stepped slowly on to the bridge, and suddenly it drew itself up to a great height, and its wings were spread from wall to wall; but still Gandalf could be seen, glimmering in the gloom, with a white orb of light surrounding him.
From out of the shadow a red sword leaped flaming. Glamdring glittered white in answer.
There was a ringing clash and a stab of white fire.
"You shall not pass!" cried Gandalf again, and bringing his sword and staff together, he slammed them to the ground at the same time.
The Balrog roared, flames erupting from its mouth. It moved closer to Gandalf, but the bridge under it suddenly crumbled. It fell, taking the Balrog with it.
Gandalf sighed, weary. He turned and was walking back to his companions when the Balrog's whip curled about the wizard's foot, and dragged him to the edge.
He staggered and fell, grasped vainly at the stone, and slid into the abyss.
"Fly, you fools!" he cried, and he was gone.
"Nooo!" cried Frodo, with Boromir holding him back. Boromir picked up Frodo, and began to lead the others out of the mines, with the rest following close behind, blinded by tears.
The bright sunshine pierced their eyes, as they left the gloom of the mines. Frodo looked around for Casey. She was walking out of the mines, when it suddenly seemed as if the Sun's rays had engulfed her. She disappeared from his sight entirely. He felt sad, but knew that she would always be around him.
He wandered to the edge of the rocky hillside. The others had scattered, the hobbits crying while Boromir was holding Gimli back, who had insisted on going back to find Gandalf.
"Come Legolas, the map," said Aragorn, wiping his blade on a rag. Legolas' large blue eyes were filled with tears. He took the map out of a pack, and patted Sam comfortingly on the back.
"Legolas," came Aragorn's authoritative voice again. The elf turned and handed the map over to him.
"For pity's sake, let them have a moment's peace!" cried Boromir.
"We cannot linger here. By nightfall these hills will be swarming with orcs! Come, get up." He lifted Sam to his feet.
"Frodo, Frodo!" Aragorn cried. The ring bearer had wandered to the edge of the cliff. Near him, Aragorn's sharp Ranger eyes detected Casey standing nearby, with her dress billowing in the wind. She had one hand resting on the hobbit's shoulder.
What they were saying, Aragorn could not hear. To anyone, it would look as if they were sister and brother. But Aragorn was not anyone, and he knew better.
"I am glad you're here with me, even though I cannot see you clearly," said Frodo softly, breaking their silence. Casey remained silent, but smiled.
She wrapped her arms around Frodo in an embrace, and kissed him gently on the cheek. Frodo's pale cheek blossomed pink after her lips left it. They remained still for a while, Frodo crying softly into Casey's shoulder. After he had no more tears left to cry, Casey wiped away his tears with her left hand, her other arm still wrapped around Frodo. Reluctantly, Frodo stepped out of her embrace. She took his hand and led him back to the others.
Aragorn smiled to himself, and ran back, before they could see him. Just looking at the two of them reminded him of Arwen Evenstar and himself.
"Arwen vanimelda, namarïe!" he murmured under his breath, his fingers stroking the necklace that Arwen had given him.
"Where to now?" asked Gimli, as they put on their packs.
"We make for the woods of Lothlòrien," replied Aragorn.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Phew! :::sweatdrop::: That tired me out completely! Now I'm just going to carry on reading LOTR... I'm on Two Towers now!