A/N: This chapter is not one following Frodo. It is set when the company goes out to search for Frodo right after 'Under the Stars' and during the chapter 'The Uruk-Hai.'

A/A/N (another authors note) Someone e-mailed me about some of the characters. I just wanted to make it clear that Shrell, Myrth, Safarien and Durnal (though she didn't appear much) are my characters. You may not use them without my permission. Thanks!

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It was early when the Aragorn awoke. Something was wrong. It could be sensed. The early morning air was thick and it was still dark. He was the only one awake. Something was moving through the trees. It was staggering. As the dark shape grew closer he could hear the sound of soft sobs. It stepped through the trees and fell to it's knees. The moonlight fell across the figures face....Arwen.

Aragorn knelt in front of her. "What has happened?" he asked, taking her hand in his.

"I have betrayed you. I have betrayed our cause" she answered, tears running down her face.

"You have done no such thing" he said, squeezing her hand reassuringly.

"The Ring Bearer is gone. It is my fault. Where a hobbit girl has shown the strength to forsake the ring, I have shown weakness." Her tears sparkled in the moon-light. Aragorn turned his head and looked at the ground. He didn't know what to say. He was not angry but the feeling he had was indescribable.

"The same fate has befallen many. No one holds it against you. Do not hold it against yourself" he told her, softly running a hand through her hair. "We shall find the Ring Bearer in the morning."

When the sun came over the trees and broke the darkness everyone was already awake. Merry and Pippin were eating, Safarien was trying to find out just how rich Legolas was, and Sam was sitting quietly on a rock. Arwen had packed up a few supplies and was facing north, her head lifted. Aragorn came up behind her.

"Are you certain that you will return?" he asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"I am. Though I shall not be going to Gondor. I wish to return to Rivendell" she said, turning to face him. "We shall meet again, my King."

"May your journey bring you there safely. I shall always think of you. Follow the stars. Don't look back." Aragorn kissed her on the forehead, then she turned and my her way back down the mountains, slowly disappearing behind the rocks.

Aragorn was left standing there for what seemed like ages then he turned.

"We must find Frodo and Shrell" he said. "Gimli, go with Legolas. Merry and Pippin shall travel with Safarien. Gandalf and Myrth shall travel together and Sam shall come with me. Let us depart."

"What about ussss? We shall not be forgotten, precious! We shall help find the master!" cried Smeagol.

"Do you wish to go alone, creature?" asked Aragorn.

"We are notsss a creature! We are Smeagol!"

"Do you wish to go alone, Smeagol?" Aragorn repeated.

"Yess"

~~

Aragorn lead Sam through the trees. It was dark and hazy. The light was scarce and the cries of Orcs could be heard in the distance. Sam was continually spinning around to see if something was behind him and he always had his sword ready. Aragorn cut aside branches as he made his way through the trees. His heart was afraid the quest was failing.

"Samwise, stay close!" he called.

"Yes sir!" replied Sam, who scurried up behind him. "Uh, Strider, do you think those Orcs will find us?" Sam asked.

"Not if we hurry. Let's hope they haven't found Frodo and Shrell" Aragorn answered.

~~

Merry and Pippin were quietly following Safarien, who was counting on her fingers (They guessed she was adding up money). It was very still but if they listened closely they could here the cries of Orcs in the distance. They searched for hours but not a sign of Frodo could be seen.

"How far could they have gone" Pippin asked, sitting down on a rock.

"As far as they wished which could have been quite a ways" Safarien answered. Merry frowned.

"I hope the Orcs did not find them" Merry said, looking at the ground.

~~

"So. I trapped seven Goblins" bragged a proud Legolas.

"You did no such thing, Elf!" retorted Gimli.

"You can't prove me wrong!"

"I was with you the whole time!"

"At least I didn't get caught in my own trap"

At that moment an arrow came flying at them.

"Get down" cried Legolas, pushing Gimli out of the way. The arrow just missed their heads and stuck fast in a tree. A number of Orcs appeared from behind the rock. Some had swords and some had bows. Gimli regained his footing and pulled out his ax. Legolas had already shot two goblins by that time. Gimli charged, slicing an Orcs head off it's shoulders. Legolas shot three more.

"Five!" He shouted proudly. Gimli did not answer. Driven by the will to kill more Orcs than Legolas, Gimli killed two more. Then three, then four, then seven, and a good amount more till all the Orcs were slaughtered.

"Your count, Gimli?" Legolas asked, strutting over.

"38" he answered, grinning. The look on Legolas' face was priceless. He looked crushed. Gimli felt triumph grow with in him. Then , Legolas smiled.

"50!" he shouted and walked on ahead. Gimli's heart sank. He put his ax in his belt and continued on, grimly.

~~

It was far past lunch time and Sam and Aragorn had found nothing.

"How 'bout we slip up. We'll cover more ground" Sam suggested. Aragorn seemed against the idea but nodded. They went different directions.

Aragorn walked for miles but Frodo and Shrell were no where in sight. He sat down on a rock. The trees were now his main focus. They were leafless and gnarled. Their branches seemed to grab at him. Their twisted branched swayed in the cold wind. He could only hope the others were having better luck them him.

~~

"Safarien, I'm half starved! Can we please have lunch?" moaned Pippin.

"But you just had lunch" answered a confused Elf.

"That was elevenzies" corrected Merry.

"Well, whatever it was, we're out of food now" Safarien answered, sitting down beside the two.

The heard the sound of voices getting closer. Safarien stood back up.

"Get your weapons" she whispered. Pippin and Merry did so at once. The voices grew closer. They soon could be understood.

"I killed 78 Orcs that time"

"I killed 110"

Safarien rolled her eyes and sheathed her sword. Legolas and Gimli appeared through the trees..

"Oh!" Legolas said, quite surprised to see the other search party.

"I see you've had no better luck than I" Safarien answered, walking over. Legolas shook his head.

"We might as well start heading back" Merry said, frowning. They all agreed and began to trudge back to the camp site.

Hours passed before the got back and the sky had begun to darken.

~~

Aragorn was still sitting on the rock. Hours had passed but he had not moved. He could hear voices approaching. He turned his head. Safarien's and Legolas' search parties were approaching. His heart sank when he saw that the didn't have Frodo and Shrell with them.

"We are headed back to the camp site! Are you coming?" called Merry.

"I suppose! Let's hope Sam had better luck than I" He called back.

"Uh, do any of you remember which way it was?" Pippin asked, shyly. They looked from one to another.

"We'll split up. Everyone goes alone." Aragorn paused, "Merry and Pippin travel together."

Merry and Pippin set out at once (and did find the camp sit, as you probably guessed).

~~

"Ahhh! Run faster, precious, faster!"

Smeagol was running as fast as he could. The Orcs were not far behind. He dodged trees and rocks but it was no use, the Orcs were too fast. Without thinking he dove behind a rock and to his luck the Orcs charged by.

Smeagol scampered off in the other direction in hopes of finding the camp fire. He heard a cry from behind him and knew the Orcs had spotted him. He quickened his pace but even with a good lead the Orcs would find him soon.

He felt as though he could run no further when he saw the camp site ahead. The Hobbits were all there. Knowing they must leave quickly, he ran up to them.

~~

Everyone else searched for hours but only ended up back at the same rock that Aragorn had been sitting on.

"This is hopeless" cried Safarien.

"Merry and Pippin have had better luck than the rest of us" moaned Gimli.

"Or worse" muttered Legolas.

"Let us follow their trail, then" Aragorn said with a nod.

They followed the tracks of Merry and Pippin best the could but in the dark it was nearly hopeless. It was nearly pitch black and there was no sign of the camp site. The still staggered on with little hope.

Just when they were about to give up they came upon the small camp site. There was nothing but ruble where the fire had been. What little food they had left at the camp site was strewn across the ground and Safarien's pack was the only thing that was even the slightest bit fixable.

"Orcs" Legolas said, his head hung. Safarien placed a hand over her mouth and murmured something in Elvis. Legolas looked at her sadly.

"They have left. I can sense it. They are now on their own" Legolas said , raising his head.

"Then there fate is in their own hands".....................to be continued.