A/N: It's a bit short, but since everyone wants me to hurry and post something, I've tried to continue the story a bit. Hopefully it is coherent as it was written somewhat quickly and late at night. I hope it doesn't disappoint. There's no action in this part. Just the Fellowship doing a little thinking. I hope you enjoy it! Sorry it's been so long in coming!

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Gondor's Bane

Part Six: Ill At Ease

"What are they saying?" Sam asked Frodo, gesturing toward Aragorn and Legolas, who stood speaking quietly away from the Fellowship's remaining members.

"I don't know, Sam," Frodo answered.

Pippin took a bite of an apple he had found in the bottom of Merry's pack while his cousin wasn't looking. "I don't see why they have to speak away from the rest of us. I thought Aragorn decided we should know what is happening as well."

"I'm sure they have a good reason for speaking privately, Pip," Merry replied. "Where did you find that apple?"

Pippin grinned and continued eating.

"I'm going to see what is taking so long," Gimli grunted, walking over to the Man and the Elf.

"I do not know why, but I feel something has happened," Legolas was saying.

Aragorn looked thoughtfully into the distance. "Let us not speak of our concerns with the others. At least, not until necessary."

Legolas and Gimli nodded. "What do you think has happened?" Gimli asked.

"I know not," was the elf's answer.

"Let us gather our things and continue our march. Let us also hope that you are wrong in this case, Legolas," Aragorn said.

Legolas nodded again, and the three returned to the hobbits.

***

During the march Legolas scanned the horizon as he had done for the entire pursuit. Still, he saw nothing. He desperately hoped that Aragorn could find and follow Boromir's trail. Though he trusted Aragorn in this matter, and felt sure the Man could do this, he knew that without either a hindrance to Boromir or more speed from the Fellowship, their chase would be in vain. Boromir would reach his city before them and would probably have already used the Ring, possibly to his own destruction.

Legolas allowed his mind to wander back to his father's halls. He wished to return there and taste the sweet Elvish wine, and to hear the tales of his people told by their fair voices in his own tongue.

Gimli wondered about Legolas's statement. What could have happened? He was fond of the elf, but told himself that Elves had been wrong before. This hope was faint, even in a dwarf's heart.

He himself was rather homesick. He wished to once more see his kin. They would share a hearty feast, then head farther into the mines. Perhaps they would fashion some playthings for the dwarf children. Maybe they would just sit and laugh together for a while. He wished he were home. He would not turn aside, though. Gimli would not leave the Fellowship until his part was over. Perhaps he would die alongside his new friends. He could not tell the future, nor did he want to. All he wanted was to find Boromir, return the Ring to Frodo, and throw it into Mount Doom to have done with this madness once and for all.

The hobbits all had the same thoughts on their minds: hobbit holes, mushrooms, bacon, ale and sleep. They longed to see the fields of green once more. They wanted to sleep in soft, warm, safe beds in safe holes. They no longer cared for adventure and all such things as that. They just wanted to go home.

"When we're finished, I'm going to sleep for a week," Pippin yawned. "Then I believe I'll go to the Green Dragon and stay there for the next."

"I'm going to have fresh vegetables every day," Merry said, licking his lips hungrily. "Really, Pip, where'd you get that apple you had?"

"I believe I'll be content to walk the hills of the Shire from now on. Maybe stay in Hobbiton altogether," Sam said.

Frodo sighed. "I believe the only place I'll be walking will be the inside of Bag End if I can get it back from the Sackville-Bagginses."

Sam scowled. "Why did you have to give it to them, Mister Frodo, begging your pardon?"

"I didn't have much choice, Sam," Frodo answered. "My mind was on other things than Bag End."

"Too bad ol' Gandalf isn't around still. He'd make them give it back."

"Yes, he would." Frodo agreed quietly. He believed Gandalf would do many things if he were still with them. Perhaps he could even help them reach Boromir in time.

Aragorn's thoughts were on more than one thing. He considered the path he was following, which had strayed from the direction of Minas Tirith, as well as what Boromir was doing, what Legolas had said, his destiny and an elf maiden in Rivendell. The very thought of her made the man's heart grow stronger. He would not let her down.

Boromir was making this task much more difficult than it had to be. A difficult journey was nearing its end and Boromir, taken by madness most likely, had taken what he shouldn't have, thus changing everything. In the absence of the Ring, Aragorn noticed that Frodo's eyes shone clearer, but the hobbit seemed more depressed. He had had a heavy burden laid upon him, and he was willing to carry that burden to the end. Now the end was slipping further and further away...or perhaps it was drawing nearer. They could not know for sure. All they could do was continue following Boromir's path and hope to reach him in time.

Aragorn looked at the horizon. "Son of Gondor, what have you done?"