The water from the Great River sloshed on the boats edge. The sound of the wooden oars splashing into the water and coming out dripping water from its side filled the silence between the remaining people. Legolas, Aragorn, Gimli, and Paddamill. Birds sang into the wind as it gently blew. It all seemed so peaceful yet so eerie. As Paddamill sat in the middle of the boat she kept her eyes peeled to the land that surrounded the boat. Aragorn sat in front keeping his eye on the river while Legolas and Gimli rowed. At every sound there was caution. Whenever the wind rustled the leaves everyone paused for a brief moment to see if anything was near and whenever something shifted the boat everyone looked. It was fearful to be on water while you knew four people could be in great danger further than the one they were faced with on the boat. Nothing seemed safe anymore. Not even the sound of the water.
"How much further?" Paddamill dared to ask. Aragorn frowned as he looked around.
"A long way." He replied keeping his eyes on the never ending river up ahead, never taking a moment to glance back at her or the others. The only thing they could all do was sit and worry. Everyone wondered why they couldn't follow Frodo and Sam but they knew it was in their best interest to go on ahead. But still it didn't seem right when it was their job to make sure nothing happened to Frodo and especially the ring. But they had to help Merry and Pippin. The two Hobbits who were in the hands of the enemy. They didn't even have time to truly remorse for the life of Boromir. It was all about time, A luxury they wished to have. But they knew time was running out.
"Shhh!" Legolas immediately stood. Gimli looked up at the Elf with great fear in his eyes. Paddamill turned to see Legolas looking both ways along with Aragorn. He stood and looked around with a frown upon his face
"Do you see something?" He asked after a moment.
"No but I hear it and feel it." Paddamill frowned and looked around but it was too late. A Uruk-Hai jumped into the boat growling ferociously. Paddamill screamed with surprise as it attacked Aragorn. Legolas grabbed an arrow and shot at it. As it wisped by Paddamill it hit the creature in the back of the neck shrieking in pain suddenly falling into the water dragging Aragorn with it.
"Aragorn!" Paddamill yelled leaping forward over the front of the boat grabbing onto his arm. Legolas ran to the front jogging the boat heavily.
"ARG!" Gimli yelled as another Uruk-Hai leapt into the boat rattling it. Aragorn gasped for air when his head popped out of the water like an apple in a tub.
"I'm all right!" He yelled seeing Gimli fighting. Legolas frowned looking back to see him but another creature jumped on him. Paddamill looked at the creature choking Legolas. She grabbed an oar and broke it on the side of the boat leaving a nice sharp end. She stood up ready to attack but stopped when she became wide eyed. The Uruk-Hai was lifting Legolas with only his left hand wrapped tightly around his neck. Legolas kicked his feet slightly starting to become unconscious. The Uruk-Hai looked at Paddamill showing her he had no fear. But she suddenly ducked. Gimli held his axe and swung with all his might into the side of the creature.
It yelled out in pain and anger as Legolas fell to the bottom of the boat shaking it. "Stab him!" Aragorn yelled as he fell into the boat. Paddamill came to her senses and held it tightly in her hands. She lifted it high and stabbed it in the neck. With a powerful force it swung it's right arm and hit her in the face. without resistance she fell back by the hard hit only to be saved by Aragorn's quick reflexes. He jumped up and grabbed her from falling overboard. After a moment of watching it cautiously it slowly died and fell over into the water leaving only blood to soak up on their clothes. Paddamill fell to her knees to see if Legolas was okay, despite her nick on the cheek and welt building up on the other side of her face.. He held his throat coughing wildly. She felt a few leaves fall on her head when she finally looked up to the large tree branch hanging rather low. She gasped looking at the panting dwarf.
"Gimli!" Paddamill screamed as his only warning.
"Look out!" Aragorn yelled finishing her sentence. He turned quickly and screamed as a Uruk jumped on him and toppled the two over board. She heard him splashing and gasping before being drug under the water. Aragorn jumped in the water to go free Gimli. Soon Legolas stood up feeling a bit dizzy but he put his right foot on the edge of the boat and pointed his arrow towards a blurry image in the water. "Make sure it's the creature not Gimli!" Paddamill yelled watching Legolas squint and pull his bow.
"I won't miss..." Legolas whispered. Paddamill felt the boat lean to the right a bit. She looked over her shoulder and saw an Orcs hand.
"Legolas!" She yelled but before he could turn around the boat was flipped over. She and Legolas screamed as they fell into the now murky water.
Paddamill was the first to come up and gasp for air. She frowned when she saw nothing but darkness. She looked up and realized the boat was over her head. She screamed when she was pulled back under the water by a hard force against her ankle. Once she opened her eyes in her only defense she saw an injured Uruk-Hai holding her tight. She held her breath and struggled to get loose. Legolas shot an arrow under water to the Uruk who was trying to kill Gimli. After retrieving his arrow three heads popped up.
"I can't...I can't swim!" Gimli yelled struggling to dog paddle. Aragorn grabbed him and pulled him towards the shore a couple of feet away. Legolas looked around along with the two standing in shallow waters.
"Where..." Legolas started swimming in a circle. "Where is Paddamill!" He yelled out searching frantically. Aragorn frowned and walked out further before the waters came to his chin.
"Paddamill!" Aragorn yelled looking in the water that was now muddy from the disrupted mud lying on the bottom of the river. Legolas kept dunking his head under trying to see but he had no luck. The two exchanged looks after a moment.
"*GASP* HELP!" Paddamill's scream echoed throughout the valley. Aragorn and Legolas gasped when they saw her pop up to the left of them.
"Paddamill!" Legolas yelled swimming towards her. But to his dismay Paddamill was quickly jerked back down.
"Aragorn!" Gimli yelled seeing two more Uruk-Hai appear on shore.
"One for both of us." Aragorn said getting out his sword.
Underwater, Paddamill was struggling with the Uruk-Hai who held her by the neck of her shirt. He reached into his sheath and pulled out a sword that shined the sun into her eyes. She squinted turning her head to the right so she could hurry up and die but the gurgled scream of the Uruk made her open her eyes. She felt an arm wrap around her waist and pull her up. Once she knew she was out from under the water she gasped along with Legolas. She breathed heavily and felt a little lightheaded from the loss of air. She looked around and felt her hair had fallen out of her ponytail. With her hand she pushed it out of her face.
"You okay!" Legolas asked as he swam towards the shore that was opposite to the side Gimli and Aragorn were on.
"Y-y-yes." Paddamill let out.
"Look out!" Paddamill frowned and turned her head to see Gimli and Aragorn yelling.
"AH!" Legolas screamed letting his hold go. She swam to see Legolas was stabbed by his own arrow. She felt a jerk on her arm and without thinking she knew it was the same Orc. She grabbed a knife in her belt and reached to stab it. The Uruk-Hai grabbed her hands and squeezed tightly.
"Ah...." Paddamill winced feeling the pain course up her arm making her drop the dagger into the water plummeting to the bottom. Aragorn jumped into the water once more swimming towards her. It was then in that moment Paddamill realized a strange noise. She looked over her left shoulder to see something she wished she wouldn't have; A waterfall. She hit the Uruk-Hai with her fist but it only did so little since he pushed her head under water.
Aragorn stopped swimming when he realized he was too far away for her. Legolas then came into picture. He was standing gracefully on a large tree branch that hung over the river a bit further down. The water instantly stained black and when she felt the pressure of the Uruk-Hai's hand off of her head she was enabled to go back to the surface and breath. The Uruk was no where in site now. She then felt the current getting stronger and began pulling her closer towards the waterfall.
"Paddamill! Grab my hands!" She heard Legolas yell to her. She frowned trying to swim towards him. She saw the boat still floating on the wrong side. With all her might she quickly swam to it and placed her hands on it. She felt the slick wood but proceeded to crawl on top of it. It wasn't the safest position, but at least she could grab onto Legolas better. Paddamill sat on one knee and looked back to see the Uruk floating in the water dead with an arrow sticking out of its head. She frowned as she approached Legolas a bit faster than before. She had to be swift otherwise she'd miss him. When she felt his hands grasp tightly onto her forearm she felt instantly safe. But a flash of light changed the scene. He frowned looking around to see an Orc charging after him with a large sword. He frowned when the scene changed quickly back to before. Paddamill looked up to see him lying on his stomach with his hands reached out. His face etched in pain due to the wound in his shoulder. He ignored what he just saw remembering it was her gift.
Although she felt safe the boat would quickly change that. After a moment it gave way flipping back over and moving far from her reach. She gasped when she felt Legolas' hands slipping off of her arms and hands that were soaking wet. Legolas frowned and grunted as he tried to pull her up. All Paddamill could think was she wasn't going to make it when she finally screamed it out.
"No! It's okay, I won't let you fall!" Legolas yelled back to her as their hands finally came in contact showing she was falling. Aragorn was now to the other side and racing towards the tree to help.
"Don't you let her fall!" She heard him call out as he leapt over large obstacles ranging from rocks and holes to dead Uruk-Hai to fallen tree limbs.
"Grab tighter Paddamill!" Legolas called out to her. She did as he requested but it didn't do any good. Just when she thought it was safe, it wasn't. Her hand slipped out of his grip along with the other and she plummeted back into the water. She quickly swam up to the surface hearing Legolas.
"No! Paddamill!" Legolas moved up off his chest and jumped onto the ground and ran to another tree further down. Before she would pass by it Aragorn was already there to grab onto her arm that she held out in hopes of grabbing something. Aragorn grabbed a hold of it quickly and then her other. Legolas crawled up to where he was and helped him by grabbing his legs before he fell off the branch. Aragorn pulled up with all his energy and with the help of Legolas, began to stand up. Paddamill could only pray they wouldn't let her fall back into the water that was now dark and unsoothing.
As the two pulled her up, Paddamill swung her right leg onto the tree and grabbed onto Aragorn's shoulders once she knew she could. He held her under the arms as Legolas bent down and grabbed her other leg. She coughed violently from all the water she inhaled and swallowed and allowed them to take her to safety. She was weak. She had been cut by tree branches that had fallen into the water, along with getting nicked by one of Legolas' arrows. She could only dream she'd be on dry land after that. Aragorn lifted her up and helped her walk towards Legolas as he jumped down onto the ground. Paddamill looked down at him as he held out his arms to let Aragorn lift her down to safety. Paddamill panted as she grabbed onto Legolas as if her were a rag doll. Aragorn jumped down afterwards and sighed rubbing her back.
"You'll be okay. Keep an eye out, I have to get Gimli." Aragorn put Legolas' wet sword Paddamill had pulled out of his sheath and quickly ran off into the distance to help Gimli get across the water. Legolas sat Paddamill down to let her regain her breath. She coughed a few times as she let her head lean on the tree's trunk. Legolas' hand searched over her body to see if she had any serious injuries. Paddamill slowly opened her eyes to see Legolas with a very concerned yet concentrated look as his hands enveloped her body.
"Thought you said you wouldn't let me fall." Paddamill asked with humor in her voice. Legolas raised his head to look at her. He saw the small grin that crossed her face warming him up inside.
Over the course of a few weeks, Paddamill had gone from a young woman who enjoyed knitting and vegetable shopping to a young woman who loved to fight and nobly kept putting herself in peril for others. She had almost lost her life twice trying to keep others alive and seeing her smile after nearly being swept away by a river made Legolas realize she was a brave warrior and would not fail in their journey to help the hobbits. Without warning she frowned and began to cough obviously still a bit choked from the water.
"You okay?" He asked leaning in. She nodded and looked up to see his face just inches away from hers. He looked at the large cut on her cheek that was made by his arrow.
"You have a couple of cuts. Nothing too serious." Paddamill sighed out leaning her head back onto the tree. allowing the loss of energy to take over.
"Like I've said before, everybody needs a few scars."
"How much further?" Paddamill dared to ask. Aragorn frowned as he looked around.
"A long way." He replied keeping his eyes on the never ending river up ahead, never taking a moment to glance back at her or the others. The only thing they could all do was sit and worry. Everyone wondered why they couldn't follow Frodo and Sam but they knew it was in their best interest to go on ahead. But still it didn't seem right when it was their job to make sure nothing happened to Frodo and especially the ring. But they had to help Merry and Pippin. The two Hobbits who were in the hands of the enemy. They didn't even have time to truly remorse for the life of Boromir. It was all about time, A luxury they wished to have. But they knew time was running out.
"Shhh!" Legolas immediately stood. Gimli looked up at the Elf with great fear in his eyes. Paddamill turned to see Legolas looking both ways along with Aragorn. He stood and looked around with a frown upon his face
"Do you see something?" He asked after a moment.
"No but I hear it and feel it." Paddamill frowned and looked around but it was too late. A Uruk-Hai jumped into the boat growling ferociously. Paddamill screamed with surprise as it attacked Aragorn. Legolas grabbed an arrow and shot at it. As it wisped by Paddamill it hit the creature in the back of the neck shrieking in pain suddenly falling into the water dragging Aragorn with it.
"Aragorn!" Paddamill yelled leaping forward over the front of the boat grabbing onto his arm. Legolas ran to the front jogging the boat heavily.
"ARG!" Gimli yelled as another Uruk-Hai leapt into the boat rattling it. Aragorn gasped for air when his head popped out of the water like an apple in a tub.
"I'm all right!" He yelled seeing Gimli fighting. Legolas frowned looking back to see him but another creature jumped on him. Paddamill looked at the creature choking Legolas. She grabbed an oar and broke it on the side of the boat leaving a nice sharp end. She stood up ready to attack but stopped when she became wide eyed. The Uruk-Hai was lifting Legolas with only his left hand wrapped tightly around his neck. Legolas kicked his feet slightly starting to become unconscious. The Uruk-Hai looked at Paddamill showing her he had no fear. But she suddenly ducked. Gimli held his axe and swung with all his might into the side of the creature.
It yelled out in pain and anger as Legolas fell to the bottom of the boat shaking it. "Stab him!" Aragorn yelled as he fell into the boat. Paddamill came to her senses and held it tightly in her hands. She lifted it high and stabbed it in the neck. With a powerful force it swung it's right arm and hit her in the face. without resistance she fell back by the hard hit only to be saved by Aragorn's quick reflexes. He jumped up and grabbed her from falling overboard. After a moment of watching it cautiously it slowly died and fell over into the water leaving only blood to soak up on their clothes. Paddamill fell to her knees to see if Legolas was okay, despite her nick on the cheek and welt building up on the other side of her face.. He held his throat coughing wildly. She felt a few leaves fall on her head when she finally looked up to the large tree branch hanging rather low. She gasped looking at the panting dwarf.
"Gimli!" Paddamill screamed as his only warning.
"Look out!" Aragorn yelled finishing her sentence. He turned quickly and screamed as a Uruk jumped on him and toppled the two over board. She heard him splashing and gasping before being drug under the water. Aragorn jumped in the water to go free Gimli. Soon Legolas stood up feeling a bit dizzy but he put his right foot on the edge of the boat and pointed his arrow towards a blurry image in the water. "Make sure it's the creature not Gimli!" Paddamill yelled watching Legolas squint and pull his bow.
"I won't miss..." Legolas whispered. Paddamill felt the boat lean to the right a bit. She looked over her shoulder and saw an Orcs hand.
"Legolas!" She yelled but before he could turn around the boat was flipped over. She and Legolas screamed as they fell into the now murky water.
Paddamill was the first to come up and gasp for air. She frowned when she saw nothing but darkness. She looked up and realized the boat was over her head. She screamed when she was pulled back under the water by a hard force against her ankle. Once she opened her eyes in her only defense she saw an injured Uruk-Hai holding her tight. She held her breath and struggled to get loose. Legolas shot an arrow under water to the Uruk who was trying to kill Gimli. After retrieving his arrow three heads popped up.
"I can't...I can't swim!" Gimli yelled struggling to dog paddle. Aragorn grabbed him and pulled him towards the shore a couple of feet away. Legolas looked around along with the two standing in shallow waters.
"Where..." Legolas started swimming in a circle. "Where is Paddamill!" He yelled out searching frantically. Aragorn frowned and walked out further before the waters came to his chin.
"Paddamill!" Aragorn yelled looking in the water that was now muddy from the disrupted mud lying on the bottom of the river. Legolas kept dunking his head under trying to see but he had no luck. The two exchanged looks after a moment.
"*GASP* HELP!" Paddamill's scream echoed throughout the valley. Aragorn and Legolas gasped when they saw her pop up to the left of them.
"Paddamill!" Legolas yelled swimming towards her. But to his dismay Paddamill was quickly jerked back down.
"Aragorn!" Gimli yelled seeing two more Uruk-Hai appear on shore.
"One for both of us." Aragorn said getting out his sword.
Underwater, Paddamill was struggling with the Uruk-Hai who held her by the neck of her shirt. He reached into his sheath and pulled out a sword that shined the sun into her eyes. She squinted turning her head to the right so she could hurry up and die but the gurgled scream of the Uruk made her open her eyes. She felt an arm wrap around her waist and pull her up. Once she knew she was out from under the water she gasped along with Legolas. She breathed heavily and felt a little lightheaded from the loss of air. She looked around and felt her hair had fallen out of her ponytail. With her hand she pushed it out of her face.
"You okay!" Legolas asked as he swam towards the shore that was opposite to the side Gimli and Aragorn were on.
"Y-y-yes." Paddamill let out.
"Look out!" Paddamill frowned and turned her head to see Gimli and Aragorn yelling.
"AH!" Legolas screamed letting his hold go. She swam to see Legolas was stabbed by his own arrow. She felt a jerk on her arm and without thinking she knew it was the same Orc. She grabbed a knife in her belt and reached to stab it. The Uruk-Hai grabbed her hands and squeezed tightly.
"Ah...." Paddamill winced feeling the pain course up her arm making her drop the dagger into the water plummeting to the bottom. Aragorn jumped into the water once more swimming towards her. It was then in that moment Paddamill realized a strange noise. She looked over her left shoulder to see something she wished she wouldn't have; A waterfall. She hit the Uruk-Hai with her fist but it only did so little since he pushed her head under water.
Aragorn stopped swimming when he realized he was too far away for her. Legolas then came into picture. He was standing gracefully on a large tree branch that hung over the river a bit further down. The water instantly stained black and when she felt the pressure of the Uruk-Hai's hand off of her head she was enabled to go back to the surface and breath. The Uruk was no where in site now. She then felt the current getting stronger and began pulling her closer towards the waterfall.
"Paddamill! Grab my hands!" She heard Legolas yell to her. She frowned trying to swim towards him. She saw the boat still floating on the wrong side. With all her might she quickly swam to it and placed her hands on it. She felt the slick wood but proceeded to crawl on top of it. It wasn't the safest position, but at least she could grab onto Legolas better. Paddamill sat on one knee and looked back to see the Uruk floating in the water dead with an arrow sticking out of its head. She frowned as she approached Legolas a bit faster than before. She had to be swift otherwise she'd miss him. When she felt his hands grasp tightly onto her forearm she felt instantly safe. But a flash of light changed the scene. He frowned looking around to see an Orc charging after him with a large sword. He frowned when the scene changed quickly back to before. Paddamill looked up to see him lying on his stomach with his hands reached out. His face etched in pain due to the wound in his shoulder. He ignored what he just saw remembering it was her gift.
Although she felt safe the boat would quickly change that. After a moment it gave way flipping back over and moving far from her reach. She gasped when she felt Legolas' hands slipping off of her arms and hands that were soaking wet. Legolas frowned and grunted as he tried to pull her up. All Paddamill could think was she wasn't going to make it when she finally screamed it out.
"No! It's okay, I won't let you fall!" Legolas yelled back to her as their hands finally came in contact showing she was falling. Aragorn was now to the other side and racing towards the tree to help.
"Don't you let her fall!" She heard him call out as he leapt over large obstacles ranging from rocks and holes to dead Uruk-Hai to fallen tree limbs.
"Grab tighter Paddamill!" Legolas called out to her. She did as he requested but it didn't do any good. Just when she thought it was safe, it wasn't. Her hand slipped out of his grip along with the other and she plummeted back into the water. She quickly swam up to the surface hearing Legolas.
"No! Paddamill!" Legolas moved up off his chest and jumped onto the ground and ran to another tree further down. Before she would pass by it Aragorn was already there to grab onto her arm that she held out in hopes of grabbing something. Aragorn grabbed a hold of it quickly and then her other. Legolas crawled up to where he was and helped him by grabbing his legs before he fell off the branch. Aragorn pulled up with all his energy and with the help of Legolas, began to stand up. Paddamill could only pray they wouldn't let her fall back into the water that was now dark and unsoothing.
As the two pulled her up, Paddamill swung her right leg onto the tree and grabbed onto Aragorn's shoulders once she knew she could. He held her under the arms as Legolas bent down and grabbed her other leg. She coughed violently from all the water she inhaled and swallowed and allowed them to take her to safety. She was weak. She had been cut by tree branches that had fallen into the water, along with getting nicked by one of Legolas' arrows. She could only dream she'd be on dry land after that. Aragorn lifted her up and helped her walk towards Legolas as he jumped down onto the ground. Paddamill looked down at him as he held out his arms to let Aragorn lift her down to safety. Paddamill panted as she grabbed onto Legolas as if her were a rag doll. Aragorn jumped down afterwards and sighed rubbing her back.
"You'll be okay. Keep an eye out, I have to get Gimli." Aragorn put Legolas' wet sword Paddamill had pulled out of his sheath and quickly ran off into the distance to help Gimli get across the water. Legolas sat Paddamill down to let her regain her breath. She coughed a few times as she let her head lean on the tree's trunk. Legolas' hand searched over her body to see if she had any serious injuries. Paddamill slowly opened her eyes to see Legolas with a very concerned yet concentrated look as his hands enveloped her body.
"Thought you said you wouldn't let me fall." Paddamill asked with humor in her voice. Legolas raised his head to look at her. He saw the small grin that crossed her face warming him up inside.
Over the course of a few weeks, Paddamill had gone from a young woman who enjoyed knitting and vegetable shopping to a young woman who loved to fight and nobly kept putting herself in peril for others. She had almost lost her life twice trying to keep others alive and seeing her smile after nearly being swept away by a river made Legolas realize she was a brave warrior and would not fail in their journey to help the hobbits. Without warning she frowned and began to cough obviously still a bit choked from the water.
"You okay?" He asked leaning in. She nodded and looked up to see his face just inches away from hers. He looked at the large cut on her cheek that was made by his arrow.
"You have a couple of cuts. Nothing too serious." Paddamill sighed out leaning her head back onto the tree. allowing the loss of energy to take over.
"Like I've said before, everybody needs a few scars."
