(A/N- Ah.  So happy!  Hehe.  If ur wondering wither I'm talking to u or me, it's both.  Ur happy cuz I got this chappie up (Yeah!), I'm happy cuz it's almost Spring Break!  Yeah!  I'm gonna go on a cruise in the Caribbean all next week, so I won't have anything up for a while, cuz I might now get a chance to write.  Though, the trip will take a few hours, but I'm not sure I'm up to writing ff at 6:20 IN THE MORNING just for u guys.  Sry, but ur not special!  Well, all my readers are special.  Hehe.  Well, anyways, I better get to the story!  Lots of the Elvish comes from Seat of Kings, which has the script from the movies!  So thanx to them!  Title means May they find peace after death!

~Lady Arabella Sedai)

Chapter 25- Hiro hyn hîdh ab'wanath

For days we paddled, and paddled, and paddled.  We stopped only at night to rest for a few hours.  That wasn't the problem though.  The problem was we never had any sleep, and were all exhausted.

We were swiftly heading downriver when we emerged into a large lake, whose edge ended in a huge waterfall.  Aragorn immediately called for us to land on the western shore.

"We will cross under the cover of darkness," announced Aragorn (A/N- The next few quotes were out of the movie, if not exactly!).

"We must go now!" replied Legolas.

"There are orc patrols all over the western shore!"

"It is not the western shore that worries me…"

I drifted off into Elen'Kaim (T- Elf Sleep (That's basically the only way to describe it)), but awoke suddenly when Aragorn shouted, "Frodo!"

"Mani naa lle umien (T- What are you doing?)?" I moaned, still half asleep.

"I can't find Frodo."

"Lle tyava quel (T- Do you feel well?)?"

"Baw (T- No!)!"

"Mankoi (T- Why?)?"

"Frodo's missing!" he yelled in frustration.

"What?!?!" I yelped, jumping to my feet.  "Why didn't you say so?"  I don't know why, but Aragorn just looked at me with disgust and sighed.

I was being really stupid, because, if I'd been smart, I would have noticed the color of my ring: black.

* * *

"Frodo!" I yelled, stomping through the woods.  "Frodo!"

"Frodo!" I heard Arwen echo.

"Stupid Frodo," I muttered.

Arwen suddenly halted, turning to the west.  "What's that noise?"

"I have no ide―" I started, but stopped, my face white.

"What is it?" asked Arwen, shaking me.  "What?"

"The ring…" I said weakly.

"Yeah.  It's black.  What's so weird about that?"

"It only turns black when there are orcs nearby…"

"What!"

"What did I just say?"

"Well, what are we waiting for?" shouted Arwen as she sprinted off towards the noise.

"Tampa (T- Stop!)!" I yelled.  I winced as it echoed through out the woods.

"Where are they though?"

"Han mathon ne chae.  A han noston ned 'wilith (T- I feel it in the earth.  I smell it in the air (A/N- Direct from the FoTR!  Doesn't belong to me!)).  Amon Hen…" I murmered.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" whispered Arwen fiercely.  "Let's go!"

* * *

"Lumbri (T- Foul)…er…" I started, stopping when I realized that I didn't know what they were.  I was pitched into battle, shooting my arrows as fast as possible.  I stood with my back pressed against Legolas, fending off hoards of the creatures.  I could see Aragorn protecting Arwen, who was throwing spells faster than the creatures could replace their fallen comrades, and Gimli off by himself, slaughtering the attackers.

"What was that?" teased Legolas faintly.

"Oh, shut up and fight," I panted back.

He just laughed.

I muttered curses under my breath as I shot.  But then, a low horn sound echoed through the clearing.  Legolas and I looked at each other.  "Boromir," we said in unison, rushing towards the sound.

* * *

We rushed into the clearing to find Uruk-hai (The creatures had yielded that name) lying in piles on the ground.

"Where are Chris and Boromir?" asked Arwen worriedly.  As she turned to look at me, she stopped dead, her face turning the color of the dead: a pasty white.

"What is it?" I asked cautiously.

Arwen just stuttered.

"What?!?!"

"It's…it's…"  She raised a shaking finger and slowly pointed behind me.

I gasped and slumped to my knees.  "No…" I whispered.  There, leaning again the tree, near Boromir, knelt Chris.  He held a hand to his chest, where four arrows were buried.  I didn't love him, but we were friends.

"Sere?" he whispered hoarsely.  "Is that you?"

"Hush," I scolded gently, crawling over to Chris.  "Here, let me look at you―"

"I know it's too late, Sere.  Don't waste your strength," Chris said haltingly.

"Chris…"

"Tell my…our people not to…mourn for me.  My…life was in service…to them…forgive me Sere…"

"Mae cara Im (T- I forgive)…"

Chris convulsed suddenly and quickly.  "Sere…" he moaned.

"Im si.  Pel edol Chris.  Gurthu utulie.  Hiro ith ab'wanath (T- I am here.  Go ahead Chris.  Death has come.  May you find peace in death) Chris."

"Namaarie thelei (T- Farewell sister)…"  He slowly grew cold and unblinking.  He was gone.

"Namaarie…" I started, tears filling my eyes.  That was as far as I could go.  I broke down crying as Arwen patted my shoulder, attempting to comfort me.

"Sere?" asked Legolas, carefully approaching to rest his hand on my free shoulder.  "It's time to go."

"And Boromir?" asked Arwen, helping me to my feet.

Legolas shook his head.

"Our Fellowship is broken," announced Aragorn, approaching with Gimli.  "We have lost three to death, two are captured, and two are gone beyond our reach."

"There is still Pippin and Merry," said Gimli.

"We will follow them.  We travel light.  Let's hunt some orc!" replied Aragorn.

I looked once more at Chris as we placed him, as well as Boromir, in the boats, and watched him tumble down the waterfall and out of sight.

"Sere?" asked Legolas, hesitantly putting his arm around me and pulling me close.  "Are you ready?"

"Yes," I said, resting my head on his shoulder and staring at the river.  We sat for a moment, and then I asked, "Legolas?"

"Mani (What?)?"

"Mankoi (T- Why?)?  Mankoi Chris?"

Legolas considered that for a moment.  "I amar prestar aen, Sere (T- The world is changed, Sere (A/N- Now I'm starting to use quote from the movies!)). 

"Minlû pedich nin, I aur hen telitha (T- You told me once, this day would come).

"Ú i vethed.  Nâ i onnad.  Boe bedich go Aragorn.  Han bâd lîn (T- This is not the end.  It is the beginning.  You must go with Aragorn.  It is your path)."

"Dolen i vâd o nin (T- My path is hidden from me)," I moaned.

"Si peliannen i vâd na dail lîn (T- It is already laid before your feet)."

I considered that for a moment, and then my face broke into a smile.  "Hannon le, Legolas (T- Thank you, Legolas!)!" I cried, flinging my arms around him.

"Tollen i lû (T- It is time)," Legolas said, drawing me to my feet.  He suddenly laughed and darted off.

"Tula sinome Legolas (T- Come here Legolas!)!" I shouted happily, chasing after him.  Maybe life would go on.

* * *

So, what do you think?  Pleeze r+r!  And remember, don't expect anything more until April!

~Lady Arabella Sedai