Chapter 13

The Road Forward: The Fellowship is Sundered

"Here, turn your foot like this and hold your sword up higher. That's it! Now lets try it again," there was a clash of swords, not heavy like a battle, but light: someone was holding back. Kalan stirred, his eyes twitched. Sunlight speckled his face through the trees. He yawned and blinked his eyes open. 'Well, that was the best sleep I've had in a long while," he thought. By the looks of it, he was still in Lothlorien, the huge golden trees reaching up to the heavens.

He turned his head to the right, trying to find the source of the commotion. There, in a clearing, was Boromir; with him was Merry and Pippin. The man seemed to be giving the hobbits lessons in sword fighting. By the looks of it, he was holding back a great deal, the smaller participants waving and slashing their long knives around unskillfully. They then came up with the idea to attack the man together. The halflings rushed Boromir, Pippin kicking him hard in the shin. Boromir cried out in surprise and hopped on one foot. While he was off balance, they tackled him together, pinning to the ground.

"For the Shire!" they called. Then they all laughed together. Aragorn stood off to one side watching, he too chuckled at their antics. Kalan sat up, using his left arm, swinging his legs off the couch. Slowly and carefully he stood, stretching his neck and back. Cautiously, he probed his wounded shoulder, then stretched his arms when he was satisfied that he wouldn't do any more damage.

"A! Kaime vanime moren-lai, yallume!"1 a light voice said from behind him, laughing. Kalan smiled and turned.

"Legolas," he said, "Lle tela lakwenien?"2 the elf grinned and they clasped each other in warm embrace.

"Gildae," said Legolas softly, "Lle nessa amada. Amin nae dele ten' lle," he said, holding him tighter. Kalan flinched, a slight pain in his shoulder. Legolas felt it and immediately released him. "Gildae, amin hireatha! I forgot." he started; Kalan waved it off, playfully tugging one of the blonde braids.

"N'dele no'ta, mellamin. 'Tis only a little pain," he smiled. Legolas nodded.

"Kalan!" was the only warning he had before a small, overjoyed bundle of laughing hobbit knocked him back onto the couch.

"Oof! Well, it's good to see you, too, Frodo," Kalan laughed. The halfling hugged him fiercely, before standing again.

"Sorry, Kalan. Its just do good to see you awake and well again," he said, grinning from ear to ear. Kalan laughed and levered himself back to his feet. By now, the others of the Fellowship had come together. There were many smiles and arm clasps among them. Merry and Pippin grinned and latched themselves onto the half-dragon, hugging him fiercely. The hobbits had become quite fond of Kalan through their journey and felt no shame in showing their affection. Kalan, however, blushed an amazing shade of red and patted them both stiffly on their heads. He quickly unwound their arms from around himself, and stood back, not meeting anyone's eyes. In doing so he did not see Aragon and Legolas exchange a knowing look.

"You want something to eat?" asked Legolas, causing Kalan to look up, startled.

"I don't need." he started, thinking they had forgotten.

"I know you don't need food," said the elf, cutting him off, "but it might help to have something in your stomach. There is plenty here in Lorien, so you don't need to worry about the rest of us having enough." He smiled, crossing his arms and tossing his long hair over his shoulder, "I don't think even dragons can go forever without food," he added with a devilish look in his eyes. Kalan sighed, defeated.

"Alright, alright. You win, I'll eat something if it will stop you mother-hens from nagging me to death!" They laughed.

"Gandalf's really dead, isn't he?" said Frodo. He and Kalan sat together at the edge of a small pool of water. Kalan absently munched on a bit of elven sweet bread. He looked over at his small companion, studying the hobbit's expression. He thought a moment before answering.

"Gandalf was a great being, an extraordinary wizard and a faithful friend. His physical self may be gone from this world, but his spirit, Frodo," he put a hand on the hobbit's shoulder. "His spirit lives on. In what we do, in the success of this quest and in just our very living. He lives on in us, Frodo, in here," he tapped Frodo's head, "and here," he placed his hand on Frodo's chest, over his heart. "Don't dwell on his death, Frodo, he wouldn't want you to. Instead, think of how he was, the memories you have of him in life. The times you spent together in the Shire, its how he would want to be remembered, Frodo," he clasped his friends shoulder. Frodo looked up at Kalan, his eyes sad but no longer holding the unbearable agony of loss. He smiled slightly, and then leaned forward to be embraced by the half-dragon, his friend.

Later that day, the Fellowship left Lorien by way of three small boats. They had said their farewells to the elves and received their respective gifts from Galadriel. Kalan bowed and touched his foreheads, then his lips with his fingers in an old elven farewell and thanks. Galadriel and Celeborn both nodded a secret smile on both of their lips.

The boats left the Golden Wood by a tributary. Aragorn rowing the first with Sam and Frodo, then Boromir with Merry and Pippin. Legolas worked the oar with Kalan and Gimli in his boat. Kalan turned to Legolas.

"Don't think that you are going to row the whole way," he said, warningly, "I'm well enough to do that, at least," Gimli nodded.

"And I, elf," he said gruffly. Legolas smiled and nodded to them. They finally came to the Great River, the current moving them even faster. When night came, they landed the boats on the western shore and camped there. One day, and another night passed this way. It was the third day that the Fellowship passed under the Argonath of Gondor.

"Long have I desired to look up on the kings of old," murmured Aragorn, "Isildur and Anarion, my kin." Everyone looked up in awe at the great stone giants, their arms outstretched, a warning to all intruders with evil in their hearts. The boats were rowed to the western shore once more. They were beached and their supplies were carried out.

"We'll cross the lake at nightfall, hide the boats and continue on foot," said Aragorn, keeping with his role as leader. "We approach Mordor from the north," all thought this was a good idea, except Gimli, who proceeded to argue with the ranger in his choice of routes. Kalan shook his head and ignored them knowing Aragorn would win in the end. His sharp eyes caught sight of Frodo, sitting alone, in silence.

"Frodo? What is wrong? You haven't said more than a word or two since Lorien," he asked softly. Frodo looked up at him with sad eyes.

"I am torn, Kalan. I know Boromir and some of Aragorn wants me to take the Ring to Gondor, and help them fight Sauron's armies. But I know in my heart that that the Ring must go to Mordor and be destroyed in Mount Doom. However, I fear to go there and fear for the rest of us if they come with me," he looked down again.

"Well, Frodo, no one can make this decision for you. You are the Ringbearer, only you can choose what to do with the Ring. However, know this: which ever way you choose, I would follow you and so would Aragorn or anyone else here for that matter," he looked down at the hobbit kindly. Frodo nodded.

"I will think on this, but I wish to be alone for one hour. Then I will make my decision," he said. Kalan nodded, understanding.

"Alright, but don't stray far, I will tell Aragorn of this," he stood and helped Frodo to his feet. Kalan smiled down at his small friend and watched the hobbit go off into the forest. Then he went to tell the others.

The hour passed and then some. Kalan began to worry. Also, Boromir was now missing, this worried Kalan even more. Lately, the man had been eyeing the Ring with a hungry eye; he knew it was calling to him. He feared what the man would do if the Ring took him, how far would he go?

"Its been over an hour, I am going to look for Frodo," he said to Aragorn softly, not wanting to worry the others. Unfortunately, Sam had been near enough to hear.

"Mr. Frodo is missing?" he asked, his eyes wide. Before anyone could stop him, the hobbit dashed off into the forest calling Frodo's name.

"Damn!" Kalan cursed. Merry and Pippin also ran in another direction, calling out for Frodo. "Double damn!" he swung his fist into a tree, cracking the bark off, cutting his knuckles.

"I'll go after Sam, if I find him we will look for Frodo together, meet back here," said Aragorn and went after the hobbit. It was then that Boromir reappeared. "Where have you been? Have you seen Frodo?" asked Kalan in an angry voice.

"I have seen him. I tried to convince him to come with me to Gondor," he answered in a small voice, his eyes downcast.

"You what?" cried Kalan. "Damn you, Boromir! Your foolishness may bring about the downfall of us all!" the half-dragon grasped the man's tunic and pulled him around to face him. "You and I will go after Merry and Pippin and guard them. If anything happens to them or Frodo, by the Valar, I'll kill you myself!" and he shoved Boromir in the direction the two hobbits had gone. He turned to Legolas and Gimli. "Find Aragorn, guard him, even if you don't find Frodo, he still has a part to play," and dashed off with Boromir. Legolas looked at Gimli who shrugged. They followed after Aragorn.

"We will never be able to find them!" cried Boromir as he and Kalan ran through the forest, looking for Merry and Pippin.

"Yes we will, they passed this way," he called back. Boromir knew better than to ask how he knew. Kalan ran along, swift and surefooted as any elf. He sniffed the air, following the hobbits' scent of pipeweed. A sudden waft of foulness met his nose and made him reel back. Boromir caught him.

"What is it?" he asked. Kalan shook his head to clear it.

"Orcs," he answered and ran faster. They came over a ridge and were met by a frightful sight. Hundreds of orcs milling about. Most were running toward something, Kalan followed their path with his eyes. "No!" he cried. Merry and Pippin were trapped between two parties of oncoming orcs. The small hobbits held their elven knives out in front of them in quivering hands. An orc charged them with a huge battle-axe.

Boromir passed Kalan and was coming in from the side. The man caught the axe as it fell, using the orc's momentum and stabbed it in the gut with the axe. Kalan took two knives out of his boots and threw them with great precision. They struck two orcs through their throats. Drawing his sword and joined Boromir.

"Get back! Get behind me!" he cried, pushing the little ones back. The man and half-dragon fought back the hordes of orcs, but they were sorely outnumbered. "Boromir! Your horn!" cried as he slashed off an orc's head. The man nodded and reached for his ivory horn, raising it to his lips. It blew a piercing, clear note into the air.

Not far off Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli fought their own battle with the orcs. The elf loosed many arrows, his aim true; the dwarf also had felled his share of the enemy with his axe. The elf saved Aragorn from a gruesome end by placing an arrow into the orc's back without piercing the man it held in its grasp. Suddenly the sound of a horn came to them on the wind.

"The Horn of Gondor!" exclaimed Legolas, Aragorn's eyes went wide.

"Boromir!" and they took off toward the sound.

1 "Ah! Sleeping Beauty wakes up at last!"

2 "Are you finished joking?"