Ok. This is kind of where the action is, and it'll continue for about three or four chapters. I make no more predictions because its painfully obvious to all that I keep very bad track of what is coming next. Anyway, I'll try (for pretty much everyone's sake) to post them up in quick succession (hey, check out my serious authors note: no funny stuff here!!) If you've read the book, you know what's coming up but I've tried my best to put my unique touch in it. Please, please let me know if all I'm doing is repeating the book. Sometimes it's hard to avoid 'cos Tolkien had some pretty indispensable ideas, ya know??
Their final day on the great River dawned warm and clear, mockingly heralding a bright, lively day as the company arose to their most important decision: east or west?
If they went west, it would be to Minas Tirith, along the Entwash. Though Boromir proudly insisted that the towers in Minas Tirith were continuously guarded and hunting parties frequently ventured into the plains to pursue and drive back dark creatures, it had been nigh on a full year since the Steward had laid eyes on or even had tidings of his home.
To proceed east was to court the darkness directly, for as Aragorn cast his tired eyes to the horizon, it was the shadowed peak of Mordor and Orodruin that greeted him. Inwardly he shivered, but outwardly, he cast his eyes back to where the Ringbearer sat hunched on his bedroll. He woken several times in the night, not from troubled dreams but because he'd seen the faint glow of the sting.
The greatsword lay next to him, and though it was sheathed, Aragorn could still see the hilt of the blade glow a faint moonlight blue. Though he could not be sure, Aragorn bested guessed that it was Orcs on the eastern slopes of Amon Lhaw, for never in his many years had he heard of or witnessed Orcs on this shore. But as it had been noted many times already, they lived now in strange and uncertain times. Anything was possible and it would be in their best interests not to dismiss any possibilities.
Legolas walked up behind and tapped him lightly on the shoulder. He'd spoken already with the elf-prince, for the disturbances the previous night had not gone unnoticed by him. The episode with Boromir troubled Aragorn greatly, but the Ranger knew too well that it would not be long before the sustained presence of the Ring would taint them all. He only hoped that they would have enough collective will to carry them to Mordor.
"We would do well to move soon," the elf murmured to Aragorn. He merely nodded in response. He was loath to impart yet another burden on the hobbit, but the decision as to their next destination was Frodo's. Gandalf may have had his own ideas as to which route to follow, but Aragorn was painfully aware that the great wizard was departed and so the decision was now left to Frodo.
Slowly, Aragorn approached the halfling and knelt down before him. There was trepidation in Frodo's wide eyes and he knew even before Aragorn spoke that there was yet another choice to consider. He exhaled forcibly as Aragorn spoke.
"Frodo, we must make haste I fear. You must choose with path we are to take to Mordor: east or west? The judgement must be made here."
The hobbit looked out at him through squinted eyes as he pondered the same question that had plagued him all night. He was no closer now to an answer than he was when he'd laid down the previous night.
"I know that haste is needed, yet I cannot choose. Give me an hour longer, and I will speak. Let me be alone!"
Aragorn nodded, accepting that the boy was torn in his thoughts. He watched as Frodo wandered off, shuffling on the damp ground, one hand stuffed into a pocket and the other where it seemed to linger perpetually: toying with tiny curse that was the focus of all their worries.
For half an hour or so, as they waited the company moved about their camp idly. Legolas continued to watch out over the waters, peering over to the farther shores, distracted away from even Nephryn. The elf-maid sat on a log. She bedroll and pack sat next to her and she seemed to stare blankly, lost in thought, while at the same time some portion of her attention lingered on Boromir, for when the man moved at all, she would look up and frown. She seemed to be waiting for the influence of the Ring to reassert itself.
When Boromir stood abruptly and walked off in the direction that Frodo had taken, Nephryn looked up and stared after him, questions hovering on her lips. She appeared as though she wanted to say something but then thought better of it and returned her gaze to the ground.
To his surprise, he watched as Sam stood and walked over to the elf-maid and sat down beside her. Since the night when she'd blessed Frodo to stay the demons that had plagued his dreams, Sam had a new found respect and liking for Nephryn. As he sat beside her now, he didn't speak at first but then appeared to draw the courage to engage her. When he spoke, Nephryn looked at him and smiled at what he said, but even from his vantage, Aragorn could see that her heart was not in the conversation. She was deeply troubled by what had occurred with Boromir.
Aragorn walked over behind Legolas. He did not need to call the elf for keen elven ears had already betrayed his approach.
"What is it, my friend? He queried lightly.
"What really happened last night?" The man did not look at Legolas as he spoke, but the elf could see unease and uncertainly in the set of his dark face.
Legolas looked over at him in surprise. They'd had a lengthy conversation about it this morning. It had appeared to Legolas then that all of the Ranger's questions had been answered, but now that seemed not to be the case.
"What do you mean exactly?"
Aragorn turned to him then, looking Legolas straight in the eye.
"Does Nephryn know something that she does not share with us? She appeared very troubled by what happened."
For a long time, the elf did not answer for he was unsure as to how much of the elf-maid's worries he ought to reveal. Nephryn had not spoken to him of her fears, but he saw the realisation in her eyes last night that the lure of the Ring affected them all.
"Last night," the elf spoke quietly, "I think she felt the effects of the Ring for the first time. She was careless and perhaps angry, and she let her blade fall fast and hard without knowing what it was she attacked. It was an easy trap to fall into, but she believes that it was the influence of the Ring."
Aragorn frowned at him. It was true that since they'd left Rivendell all had felt the insidious claw of the Ring at the edges of their beings, but long had he believed that the hearts and minds of elves were less corruptible than those of men.
"And what do you believe?" Aragorn murmured.
"I do not believe that it was what she believes. I think that, contrary to her confident face, Nephryn is as scared as the rest of us, and what's more, she has less experience in battle than you or I. Her actions were borne out of fear and instinct. No more. I cannot convince her of this. It is something she must resolve herself."
Legolas's words seemed more rational to the Ranger and he nodded in silent thought.
Both of them were drawn from their thought when they heard Pippen and Merry yelling loudly to Boromir, who had reappeared.
"Where is Frodo?"
"Did you see him?"
"We believed he was with you?"
The hobbits questions muddled together such that Boromir would not answer and only looked on with a bemused expression on his face. Aragorn strode down toward them and his commanding voice carrying over the hobbits befuddled queries.
"Where have you been, Boromir? Have you seen Frodo?"
Boromir considered the question with pause.
"Yes and no," he replied, "I found him someway up on the hill. I spoke with him and urged him to go to Minas Tirith, and not to the East. We disagreed, he grew angry and he left me. He must have used the Ring for I could not find him anywhere. I had thought him returned to you."
As he spoke, to all he seemed dazed and unsure of his words.
"Is that all that you have to say?" Aragorn asked, his tone harsh and tempered.
The hobbits began to fret, appealing to Aragorn that they should look for him. Aragorn looked across to Legolas, where he stood next to Gimli and Nephryn. All three looked worried.
"How long since you last saw Frodo, Boromir?"
The man's expression had changed rapidly from a state of stupor, to that of concern and even guilt.
"Half an hour, maybe," he mumbled, "A little more, perhaps. I wandered for a while after that. I don't know. I don't know."
An hour? Aragorn knew that this was trouble. The fellowship would be lost, scattered. A panic gripped the group suddenly.
On his short legs, Sam took off, followed quickly by Pippen and Merry. Aragorn shook Boromir out of his slumped state and motioned that he follow the hobbits.
"Protect them at least," the Ranger yelled as Boromir chased off after the hobbits. He beckoned to the remainder who now stood ready with their weapons, awaiting his instruction.
"Gimli, you and Legolas go north into the woods. Go no further than you believe Frodo could have gone on foot. Nephryn come with me."
There was no hesitation on her part and she kept his pace easily as they sprinted up the crest deeper into the wood. In minutes they came across Sam. There was no sign of the other Hobbits of Boromir. Sam was breathing hard, and was stricken with panic, lost and unsure as to what he should do.
He looked relieved as he saw Nephryn and Aragorn rise up over the crest. The poor hobbit could barely get a word out, so caught was he for breath.
"Whoa Sam!" Aragorn soothed. "Stop, for you cannot run. Use your head instead. Where would Frodo go??"
Aragorn watched as the boy wracked his brain, the possibilities running over his face and he murmured to himself. Suddenly his face brightened and his eyes widened.
"Of course," he shouted, "the boats!"
Aragorn nodded, to his and turned to Nephryn.
"Go with him. If you find Frodo, detain him as long as you can and return him to the camp."
Nephryn nodded tersely and together she and the hobbit set off at a slow jog. Aragorn watched as they departed and then took off up the hill at a sprint. If they were to be scattered now, they would surely fail in their task.
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