A/N: Woah, long delay, through I don't really feel that bad. I read the
work of AnnaBella today, really top notch, I beg you to continue your story
(Mask Of Love), and thanks for putting me on your favourites. The same
message goes out to Soar (Alliances of the Heart) and AJ Matthews (Falling
Tear, RTF, RTW) - my top two LOTR authors. Congrats to Vanessa for
finishing Affirmation, the greatest RPS story I have had read. You go girl!
Also to Vuaryn and Vanessa, this chap is a lot longer than the last.
Wishes, Prayers and Hope
Childish excitement whirled through my mind. The phrase 'I'm married' raced constantly repeated through my mind. I still couldn't believe it. I had married my true love. This coupled with my renewed feeling of health and the wind blowing through my hair was enough to make me feel wonderful. I still gazed back now and again to mull over the Aragorn's beautiful face and marvel at how he balanced three squirming hobbits on the horse in front of him. He met my gaze, a look of amused defeat on his face; I couldn't help but giggle. I turned back quickly, I had Frodo to watch over and at the front of our group I had a responsibility to keep a look out. Frodo had noticed my distraction and was shaking his head. I ruffled his hair before speeding up slightly.
Soon horses would have to be swapped for boats, I looked forward to passing the great stone figures of the old kings, Aragorn's ancestors. As I pulled young Frodo from the steed, an unwelcome feeling of unease washed over me, eyes were definitely upon us over on the other shore. I swallowed my fear with a smile and gestured to the hobbit to pack his things together.
Boats led waiting at the shore, Galadriel had kindly prepared them for us. Beautiful carved wooden vessels; it seemed almost a shame to use them. Now, at last the others had caught up with us and were selecting boats pushing them out onto the expanse of water. Aragorn wound a reassuring arm around my waist before climbing aboard a boat with the ringbearer. The tension I had felt before was rebuilding in me once again, Gimli even noticed my troubled expression. I dismissed his concerned by offering to row, grabbing the oar and moving off before he even had chance to answer.
The journey upstream was a calm one, I saw Aragorn gesturing to Frodo as the stone giants approached, he raised his head with a look of wonder that parodied Gimli's. I still felt too unsure to appreciate the sight, but cast my eyes over them.
We reached the shore and opted to rest. It was certainly welcome though I refused to show weakness and ask for it. I took this opportunity to tell my love how I felt. He looked over me concerned but did not heed my warnings in the way I had hoped. Our chance of a faintly intimate moment dashed by an enquiry of Frodo's whereabouts. My stomach lurched when I saw that Boromir was missing too. I was reminded of my last lone moments in the forest with him. Surely the little hobbit was safe. Surely. There was not even half the conviction in my mind there needed to be. I marched off into the trees purposely, leaving the heir to Gondor behind. He called after me, but I lost him and the sound of his voice by dancing through the trees, following ill-disguised human tracks on the ground. It was not long before I heard voices, though it took me a long time to trace their location. Suddenly there were shouts. Boromir.
I listened, as he called to the ringbearer, desperate, ashamed. The type of cry I would ran from, I thought, so I turned my ear to the opposite direction. A rustling of leaves rewarded me. I followed the sound to a set of ruins, high upon a hilltop, where the halfling reappeared. I jumped down.
The childlike figure backed away, clutching the ring to his chest.
"You have no reason to fear me, Frodo."
"He tried to take it from me."
"I am not he."
"Can you resist it?"
At this point he shakily offered the ring to me.
I knelt in front of him, and reached out.
To my own relief, I closed his fingers around the tiny object.
"I would have gone with you to the very end little one."
"I know."
At that moment, my fears manifested themselves in physical form.
"Orcs." They were close; I drew my short sword.
"Go Frodo! Run to the shore and don't look back. Go!"
After a tiny hesitation he sprinted off to his destiny as I turned to face mine.
They came from every direction, orcs as far as the eye could see. Soon Aragorn was at my side, wielding Anduril with fatal grace. His distraction allowed me to use my bow and I began to pick off the foul creatures before they even reached our vantage point.
We were winning. We were beating the odds. We were going to be fine. Then the horn of Gondor rang out through the trees. Boromir. I run downhill, following the echo of the sound.
I was half way down before I saw the first arrow pierce Boromir's body.
I was mere feet away when I saw the second.
I was set upon by a stray orc as the evil creature notched it's third.
I was battling for survival as the orcs reached down for Merry and Pippin.
And I was furious when the uruk-hai stopped to finish his work, which was lying prone on the ground.
Aragorn appeared from nowhere, diving upon the beast. I gave chase to those who carried the hobbits.
I ran for what seemed hours before I caught them, though it could not have been that long. I battled hard, few were left, those who were impaired by injuries or heavy burdens. As I fought, I wished for Aragorn, prayed for Boromir, and hoped for the other hobbits. By this time, red and black blood was smeared across my face, spears, trees and branches had torn at my delicate clothing. I limped slightly from my exertion and I was exhausted from the lack of rest. It was no surprise that I did not see one last blow coming and I was knocked to the ground as a blunt ended spear was whipped across my face. I winced, that going to bruise quite spectacularly, I was lucky to escape without a concussion. I jumped my feet and again to fight once more.
As I ran my sword through the last offending creature, I vowed to myself, that although I had seen the fellowship break, I would see not it fall, or fail.
I was suddenly attacked by Merry and Pippin who sung my praises and thanked me for their rescue. I was delighted to see them safe. I checked them quickly for injuries and stood.
"We must return to the rest of the fellowship." I stated matter-of-factly.
"Right, ok Legolas. Which way?"
"To be quite honest Merridoc, I have no idea."
A/N: Oh crumbs! The story is winding down a bit now. Chapter 30 will be the last, but the is a little more action on the way. Stay tuned and keep reviewing.
Wishes, Prayers and Hope
Childish excitement whirled through my mind. The phrase 'I'm married' raced constantly repeated through my mind. I still couldn't believe it. I had married my true love. This coupled with my renewed feeling of health and the wind blowing through my hair was enough to make me feel wonderful. I still gazed back now and again to mull over the Aragorn's beautiful face and marvel at how he balanced three squirming hobbits on the horse in front of him. He met my gaze, a look of amused defeat on his face; I couldn't help but giggle. I turned back quickly, I had Frodo to watch over and at the front of our group I had a responsibility to keep a look out. Frodo had noticed my distraction and was shaking his head. I ruffled his hair before speeding up slightly.
Soon horses would have to be swapped for boats, I looked forward to passing the great stone figures of the old kings, Aragorn's ancestors. As I pulled young Frodo from the steed, an unwelcome feeling of unease washed over me, eyes were definitely upon us over on the other shore. I swallowed my fear with a smile and gestured to the hobbit to pack his things together.
Boats led waiting at the shore, Galadriel had kindly prepared them for us. Beautiful carved wooden vessels; it seemed almost a shame to use them. Now, at last the others had caught up with us and were selecting boats pushing them out onto the expanse of water. Aragorn wound a reassuring arm around my waist before climbing aboard a boat with the ringbearer. The tension I had felt before was rebuilding in me once again, Gimli even noticed my troubled expression. I dismissed his concerned by offering to row, grabbing the oar and moving off before he even had chance to answer.
The journey upstream was a calm one, I saw Aragorn gesturing to Frodo as the stone giants approached, he raised his head with a look of wonder that parodied Gimli's. I still felt too unsure to appreciate the sight, but cast my eyes over them.
We reached the shore and opted to rest. It was certainly welcome though I refused to show weakness and ask for it. I took this opportunity to tell my love how I felt. He looked over me concerned but did not heed my warnings in the way I had hoped. Our chance of a faintly intimate moment dashed by an enquiry of Frodo's whereabouts. My stomach lurched when I saw that Boromir was missing too. I was reminded of my last lone moments in the forest with him. Surely the little hobbit was safe. Surely. There was not even half the conviction in my mind there needed to be. I marched off into the trees purposely, leaving the heir to Gondor behind. He called after me, but I lost him and the sound of his voice by dancing through the trees, following ill-disguised human tracks on the ground. It was not long before I heard voices, though it took me a long time to trace their location. Suddenly there were shouts. Boromir.
I listened, as he called to the ringbearer, desperate, ashamed. The type of cry I would ran from, I thought, so I turned my ear to the opposite direction. A rustling of leaves rewarded me. I followed the sound to a set of ruins, high upon a hilltop, where the halfling reappeared. I jumped down.
The childlike figure backed away, clutching the ring to his chest.
"You have no reason to fear me, Frodo."
"He tried to take it from me."
"I am not he."
"Can you resist it?"
At this point he shakily offered the ring to me.
I knelt in front of him, and reached out.
To my own relief, I closed his fingers around the tiny object.
"I would have gone with you to the very end little one."
"I know."
At that moment, my fears manifested themselves in physical form.
"Orcs." They were close; I drew my short sword.
"Go Frodo! Run to the shore and don't look back. Go!"
After a tiny hesitation he sprinted off to his destiny as I turned to face mine.
They came from every direction, orcs as far as the eye could see. Soon Aragorn was at my side, wielding Anduril with fatal grace. His distraction allowed me to use my bow and I began to pick off the foul creatures before they even reached our vantage point.
We were winning. We were beating the odds. We were going to be fine. Then the horn of Gondor rang out through the trees. Boromir. I run downhill, following the echo of the sound.
I was half way down before I saw the first arrow pierce Boromir's body.
I was mere feet away when I saw the second.
I was set upon by a stray orc as the evil creature notched it's third.
I was battling for survival as the orcs reached down for Merry and Pippin.
And I was furious when the uruk-hai stopped to finish his work, which was lying prone on the ground.
Aragorn appeared from nowhere, diving upon the beast. I gave chase to those who carried the hobbits.
I ran for what seemed hours before I caught them, though it could not have been that long. I battled hard, few were left, those who were impaired by injuries or heavy burdens. As I fought, I wished for Aragorn, prayed for Boromir, and hoped for the other hobbits. By this time, red and black blood was smeared across my face, spears, trees and branches had torn at my delicate clothing. I limped slightly from my exertion and I was exhausted from the lack of rest. It was no surprise that I did not see one last blow coming and I was knocked to the ground as a blunt ended spear was whipped across my face. I winced, that going to bruise quite spectacularly, I was lucky to escape without a concussion. I jumped my feet and again to fight once more.
As I ran my sword through the last offending creature, I vowed to myself, that although I had seen the fellowship break, I would see not it fall, or fail.
I was suddenly attacked by Merry and Pippin who sung my praises and thanked me for their rescue. I was delighted to see them safe. I checked them quickly for injuries and stood.
"We must return to the rest of the fellowship." I stated matter-of-factly.
"Right, ok Legolas. Which way?"
"To be quite honest Merridoc, I have no idea."
A/N: Oh crumbs! The story is winding down a bit now. Chapter 30 will be the last, but the is a little more action on the way. Stay tuned and keep reviewing.