Part 5

The journey along the Great River was as uneventful as it could be with a band of Uruk-hai following you on the shoreline. Luckily, there was dense forest on all sides so they couldn't be seen and alerting the Hobbits to the danger. After some time Aragorn indicated for them to go toward a small beach along the shoreline.

All four of the canoes pulled up on shore and the passengers got out. Buffy hooked her arm through Willow's, "We'll go get some firewood." Which was Buffy speak for, 'You are SO going to tell me what you talked about in the canoe with yummy elf'.

The two young women walked off into the forest.

Legolas watched until he could no longer see Willow. He felt Aragorn standing beside him, "Is it like this for you and Arwen?"

A sad smile crossed Aragorn's features, "Yes. When I first saw her I thought I had wandered into a dream."

Aragorn turned to the other travelers, "We'll cross the lake at nightfall and approach Mordor from the North."

"From the North? It is treacherous with razor sharp rocks."

"That is the way we are heading, Master Dwarf. I suggest you get some rest before we leave tonight."

Gimli mumbled, "Get some rest. Bah, I don't need to rest."

Merry and Pippin smothered their smiles listening to Gimli grumble.

Legolas whispered to Aragorn, "We should leave now. We are only a half day ahead of the Uruk-hai."

"The hobbits need their rest. We'll be fine by nightfall."

Sam looked around the shoreline, "Hey, where's Mr. Frodo?"

Aragorn looks around and sees that Boromir is missing as well.

~~~~

"So, Willow. What did you and cutie talk about?"

Willow rolled her eyes. She knew she wouldn't get out of this discussion. "Well, we talked about our favorite fantasies and how the swaying of the trees adds to the sexual experience."

Buffy laughed, "Willow! You would have been beet red if you really had that discussion. Really, what did you talk about?"

Willow smiled in memory, "We talked about the Urok-hai that are following us." Before Buffy could grumble she added, "and we talked about our lives before the Fellowship. Mine in Sunnydale and his in Mirkwood."

Buffy smiled at her friend, "See . . .more than vowel sounds CAN come out of your mouth when you're talking to a cute guy."

"I feel comfortable with him, Buffy. I mean it's like talking to Xander but different."

"Then, Legolas gets an A in Willow. Maybe even an A+."

Suddenly Buffy tenses.

"What is it?"

Buffy shakes her head and concentrates on the feeling. "Something's coming, Will. Maybe the You rock, guys."

Willow falls to her knees and Buffy scrambles to her side. "Willow! What's wrong?"

"I don't know but I just felt major black magick. Let's get back."

As they were making their way toward the shore they heard Aragorn say, "Run, Frodo, run!"

Turning back to the sound of Aragorn's voice they see Gimli and Legolas running through the woods. Legolas begins to call Willow's name.

"Over here."

Legolas stops and sees that Willow and Buffy are both safe. He gives a sigh of relief before beckoning them to follow.

Buffy and Willow run to catch up to the fast moving elf. They hear Aragorn yell, "Elendil!"

As they all approach they see Aragorn fighting the Orcs and the Uruk-hai. Buffy reaches down and picks up a sword and begins to fight. Gimli swings his axe and hits his target. "Need to rest, HA!"

Legolas takes the time to look over his shoulder to make sure Willow is all right. He smiles as he sees her throw the Orcs against the trees with just a wave of her hand.

As they continue to fight the creatures a horn is heard in the distance.

"The horn of Gondor."

Aragorn yells, "Boromir."

Buffy yells at them, "Go, we can handle them."

Aragorn watches as Buffy decapitates an Orc and then swings toward another. He nods and then he and Legolas run towards the sound of the horn.

Buffy fights and kills more of the creatures while Willow uses her magick to hold them immobile.

Buffy swings her sword and kills the last one, "You know I never thought I'd say this but I miss the vampires that go poof. No clean up of dead bodies. Hey, you got a spell that gets rid of Uruk and Orc goo out of clothes?"

Willow just smiles and shakes her head. Buffy will always be Buffy.

The forest is eerily silent. There is no sound of fighting or of the horn. Willow turns a worried look back at Buffy, "Come on, let's go. I don't like this quiet."

They follow the path that the others took. As they come over the rise they see Aragorn leaning over the body of Boromir. He has arrows sticking out of his torso.

Aragorn reaches over and puts his hand on an arrow to remove it from Boromir.

"Leave it."

Aragorn picks up Boromir's sword and puts it in his hand. Borormir clutches the sword to his chest.

"I would have followed you, my king."

Legolas holds out his hand for Willow when he sees her silently approach. Willow bites her lower lip and watches as Aragorn gently leans over the body of Boromir and places a kiss upon his forehead, "Be at peace, son of Gondor."

Willow gently squeezes Legolas' hand in comfort. She didn't know Boromir that well but knew that the others would mourn his loss.

Aragorn gently lifts the body of Boromir and Buffy reaches down and picks up the fallen sword and follows behind Aragorn. They lay Boromir in the Elven canoe and place his sword on his chest. With a sigh Aragorn pushes the funeral boat toward the falls of Rauros. Willow stands next to Legolas and places a comforting hand on the small of his back. Buffy puts her arm around Gimli's shoulder.

Legolas notices Frodo and Sam as they make their way onto the Eastern shore. He points and says, "Frodo and Sam have made it to the Eastern shore. We must hurry if we are to follow."

He turns confused eyes on Aragorn as he makes no move toward the boats. "You mean not to follow?"

"Frodo's fate is no longer in our hands."

"Then the Fellowship has failed."

Willow and Buffy look around, "Where are Merry and Pippin?"

"The Orcs have taken them. We will not abandon them to torture and death. We will travel light and hunt the Orcs."

"Oh I am so going to kick some Orc butt."

Willow laughed and the others looked confused.