Exchanged

A/N: Well now, this took a long time. I must tell you that this chapter was very difficult for me to write, particularly writing Aragorn's character. I'm not used to writing such a serious person. It did, however, give me a good excuse to watch The Fellowship of the Ring again. Every time I watch it I get more and more impatient for The Return of the King to come out. *sigh.* I saw Spirited Away recently and I would highly suggest it to anyone that likes fantasy.

There were a few questions that I was asked about the last chapter.

Re: The elven boats. My dad pointed out that the boats were elvish and therefore could not sink. That's true, but I don't think that helped Samwise's discomfort in them. Also, just because they do not sink does not mean that they won't be affected by the waves. They just won't capsize.

Re: Merry's swimming ability. A reviewer brought up the fact that Merry could swim (Bravo!! A book reader!! Yea! ^_^). I believe I stated that fact, but I did do it rather vaguely. Therefore, let me explain. Yes, Merry is a Brandybuck and therefore knows how to swim and manage a boat. However the river was very swift and quite deep (to a hobbit, at any rate). Merry could swim but kept getting pulled under by the undertow. All he could do was return to the surface to get air. It was the river that was making him drown, not his lake of swimming abilities. Also, he was very surprised and it hurts to fall 10 feet into water and land on your back (trust me......not fun). Still, I'm sure there will be instances where for whatever reason I goof and create a plot hole or an inconsistency or get a fact wrong. When that happens, please tell me!! I really appreciate it, and it doesn't upset me. In fact, it makes me happy to know that someone is reading my work close enough to pick up on things like that!!

Quote of the day: ".........And he felt that no matter how dark the shadow was there was light and beauty forever beyond its reach." J.R.R. Tolkien: The Return of the King.

To the reviewers:

=): Thank you! ^_^

Ash: I cannot thank you enough!! I truly love it when people let me know their favorite parts of the story. As for keeping the characters in character (...) I'm very glad that I did it right. I grew up hearing theses stories from my dad before I could even read, so the characters are very dear to me and I was hoping that I was doing them justice. Also, I'm glad that Frodo had a concience as well. I agree, the movie had a bit of trouble conveying that, but that's because it could not voice his thoughts very well. (Just so you know, the end of the Fellowship made me cry.........as did the end of the Two Towers...I'm a sappy person, yes.)

Gemstone: Thank you! Here's the more you asked for!!

Endymion: I am sorry you didn't enjoy the battle scene, though I can certainly agree with you. I, too, thought Helm's Deep was too long in the film. I was very impatient to see more of Frodo and Sam and Merry and Pippin, but there is going to be much more of them in the Extended Edition (43 extra minutes!!). I like to focus more on characters than blood and guts. So hopefully this chapter will tickle your fancy!!

Eloracooper4: Phew....I was worried the action scenes would come off as boring. I'm glad you enjoyed chapter one!! ::Waves flag that says Go Sam!! Then, after the rest of the Fellowship pouts, waves flags for each of the other members.::

Clover: I'm glad you think its creative. I was a bit hesitant about doing this at first, since its so majorly AU, but its turning out to be great fun!!

Boromirlover: I definetly will keep the story book canon as much as possible, although there are some lines from the films that I just love too much not to use (Boromir's line about following his captain, etc. for example.)

Siofra: Well I am glad you decided to chance clicking on my fic! I am very happy that it surprised you. Thanks, and thanks!!

Bookworm2000: Yeah!! Someone who read my preview!! Happy you enjoyed it, and I'm relieved my preview had the desired effect! Cheers for all!!

Natta: I aim to please!! Here's the next chapter. About Merry's swimming, please refer to above note. Also, thanks for pointing that out!! It makes me glad that you took the time to notice that. ^_^

Violet Raven: When I got your review I yelled "Yay!! V.R. is back!!" Thus frightening my parents considerably. I'm glad you liked it. So much encouragement makes me want to ditch school and sit in my corner writing all day...

Chapter Two

The Departure of Meriadoc

The horn of Gondor had ceased to sound. No longer did its throaty bellows echo through the trees of Parth Galen. Aragorn ran towards the glade where he had last heard it, naked sword gleaming in the pale morning light. Legolas and Gimli ran about, fighting the remaining orcs with a passion freshly kindled by the ringing of the white horn. Aragorn did not heed the demons, and had soon left the battle behind him. The cries of ringing swords grew more distant, as did the snarls and howls of the Uruk Hai.

Breathing hard and frantic Aragorn reached the mauled and blood darkened hill side where Boromir son of Denethor had made his final desperate stand. No living being could immediately be seen; though dead orcs and their body parts littered the torn earth.

The battle wearied ranger stood stiffly in a state of awed shock. "What great evil has befallen here?" He said aloud.

Movement off to the side caught Aragorn's eye. Quickly he spun around, sword raised, ready to attack. Aragorn recognized the bleeding face and immediately the sword arm lowered to his side. Boromir leaned with his back against a tree, having dragged himself over to it. His sword lay by him, broken at the hilt. His horn was by his side, cloven in two. Black feathered arrows protruded from his body like pins in a cushion. He looked at Aragorn with eyes sad and cloudy.

"It is you," Boromir stated plainly. Aragorn went to him and knelt by his side, looking over the many wounds.

"Do not speak," Aragorn hushed, trying to look closer at the arrow wound near Boromir's heart. With every breath Boromir grew weaker, and Aragorn knew that speaking would only quicken the process. Death sat on the man's shoulder.

"I have failed, I have failed you all," Boromir lamented. He grasped Aragorn's hand and looked pleadingly into the ranger's face. "Forgive me. I tried to take the Ring from Frodo. "

Aragorn looked steadily into his companion's face. This news came as no shock; he had suspected as much. He remained silent. Boromir shut his eyes in regret.

"They have taken Pippin." He took a shuddering breath. "And Merry has fallen." A sob escaped from his throat. Aragorn took Boromir's hand. Death was near.

"You have not failed," Aragorn assured. "You have conquered. You have realized your mistake. Few great men do the same."

"We shall never ride to Gondor now, my friend. I shall never see the banners of my people, of our people," Boromir opened his eyes again. "You must save my people, Aragorn. I would have followed you my captain, my brother." Boromir smiled wanly. "My king."

Aragorn tightened his grip on Boromir's hand. "The White City shall not fall. The trumpets of Gondor shall still herald your coming."

"You must tell Frodo," Boromir gasped, his speech growing slower and more strained. "You must tell him that I am sorry." His last words faded, his face relaxed, at peace at last.

Aragorn remained knelt by Boromir's side. "Be at peace." He whispered. He kissed the dead man's brow and released his hand. "Son of Gondor. Truly it is I that has failed. For I saw the madness in you........and did nothing to halt it."

Grief took him and he stood silently in the wood with the sun on his face, crying tears that had not come for many years. So it was that Legolas and Gimli found him. Gimli stood silently, leaning on his axe, his eyes downcast. He had lost many comrades to the harsh reality of war, and through all the company had been put through together, the lose of another of their number was a heavy blow to the dwarf indeed.

Harder still it was for Legolas. Immortal, he did not understand the concept of human mortality. If Gandalf's fall had confused him, Boromir's death in battle perplexed him all the more. For Boromir's face did not look pained nor tortured; but at peace, more even than in life. *The gift of man,* Legolas thought to himself. *It is no pain for the one who has passed...* He looked at Aragorn's grief stricken face and Gimli's watering eyes. *But for the ones who are left behind.*

"We have come too late," Aragorn said at length, sheathing his sword. "Boromir has fallen defending the hobbits, and I fear he has not been the only one of our company to perish on this day."

"The hobbits!" cried Gimli. "Where are they? Where is Frodo?"

"I do not know," answered Aragorn wearily. "I do not believe Frodo was here. 'They have taken Pippin, and Merry has fallen,' Boromir said to me."

Silence fell once again, the three companions numbed by the reality of Aragorn's words.

"Fallen...." Gimli said slowly. Legolas went to his friend and put a hand on his shoulder, to comfort the dwarf as well as support himself. The thought of one of the cheerful little folk having been killed was like a wound to his own heart. He refused to believe it until he had solid proof.

"If Merry has fallen then where is his body?" Legolas asked, sounding more angry than he meant to." Surely we will not leave he and Boromir out here, where the elements and foul creatures could set wind and tooth to them." Aragorn sighed heavily and turned to regard the elf.

"I do not know where Meriadoc lays. It is possible he has fallen under the bodies of one of these orcs." Aragorn detested the words he was saying. Surely whatever good that had aided them so far on the quest had abandoned them. Without a word, Legolas began searching through the bodies of the fallen orcs, muttering prayers in his native tongue as he did so. Gimli laid his axe aside and began helping the elf. Together they moved the bodies of the goblins aside and searched the area for the tiny body of the brave halfling.

Aragorn watched them with a weeping heart. When they found nothing in the mess of orcs they moved to check the surrounding brush. Aragorn bowed his head a moment, looking at Boromir again. The man's death had given them few answers and many painful questions. *Gandalf's faith in me was ill-placed,* Aragorn thought. Then he raised his head up and forced the self-pity back deep inside himself. He strode over to the hillside and began searching through the bushes there. In one he found a small blade, leaf-bladed, and damasked in gold and red. No more than a dagger it was in his hand, but it was the right size for a half-tall hobbit. Aragorn held it up sadly for his friends to see.

"Here is one of their blades. If it is Pippin's, then he is unarmed." Aragorn slipped the blade through his belt. "I shall hope, against hope, that I may return it to him."

Legolas and Gimli watched sorrowfully, then returned to their labors. Aragorn returned to searching the hillside. As he looked, his trained eyes fell upon the markings of a struggle. Aragorn knelt closer, looking at the markings. They led all the way up the hill. Creeping up the cliff like a snake, Aragorn examined the tracks, making sure not to disturb them. There were many orc prints, but at least two prints did not belong to any orc. They were hobbit marks, one smaller than the other. They led away from each other, the larger ones moving towards the edge of the cliff.

Putting things together, Aragorn rushed to the top of the hill. The hobbit tracks dropped off suddenly, and did not double back down the hill. "Merry has fallen...." Aragorn pondered. "Perhaps Boromir did not mean fallen in death.....but....."

"Legolas! Gimli!" Aragorn cried, turning. Legolas and Gimli looked up fearfully, sure that he had found what they were looking for. Instead, the man gestured over the cliff side. "Merry has fallen, perhaps not in death, but over the cliff."

Gimli remained where he was, looking confused but Legolas bounded over the fallen orcs and rushed up the hill side. He looked down at the swirling waters.

"The waters are treacherous, but not so that one could not survive them," He said, hope welling in his eyes. He turned to the ranger excitedly. "Aragorn, can the hobbits swim?"

"I am not sure...." Aragorn trailed off thoughtfully.

Legolas looked off into the distance, shading his eyes with his long hand. "I cannot see far. The river curves around after half a mile. He may have been swept far downstream."

************************************************************* "Frodo?!" Merry clung to the hand that held him. Frodo stared down at him, his world spinning out of control. What had happened? How had Merry ended up in the river? Frodo shuddered at the thought of what would have happened to his cousin if he had not seen him floundering in the rapids, so close to the falls. As it was the current was still trying to tug the Brandybuck away from the boat. Frodo gripped his cousin's wrist and held him tightly, fighting not to be dragged over the side as well.

"Hold on! I shall not let you go, but I must paddle away from the falls." Frodo guided Merry's hand to the side of the boat and Merry held on for dear life. Frodo quickly took up the paddle and using all his strength forced the elven craft away from the roaring falls. It was difficult, but once Merry regained his wits he was able to help guide the boat a little bit. At last they reached the eastern shore. Merry scrambled up onto the bank, dripping wet and shivering and immediately collapsed to the ground. His shaking legs would carry him no further at the moment. Frodo pulled the boat in away from the river and stepped out of the boat himself. Now that panic had left him he felt very confused and very, very tired. He slid down, sitting with his back to the boat wall.

"Merry....where......how......." Frodo stammered.

Merry wiped water from his eyes and looked at his cousin. "You.....you are leaving, aren't you?"

Frodo lowered his eyes guiltily. Subconsciously, his hand sought the comfort of the Ring around his neck. Finding it, Frodo closed his hand around it and nodded sadly.

"I must," he said.

Merry swallowed and crawled so he was sitting in front of Frodo. "But Pippin......Sam..........the others, they are still...." He choked.

Frodo covered his face with his free hand. "I know, Merry, I know. I am not such a fool......I heard the sounds of the orcs as I fled."

Merry stared at him, his eyes drifting downwards to the hand that clutched the Ring. Sudden anger surged in him and he had the sudden urge to reach out and tear the Ring from Frodo's grasp, but he did not, knowing that would do more harm than good. "We cannot just leave them to fight alone. I must go back!"

With a despairing cry Frodo drew his hand away from his face and thrust the Ring away from him. "You can not go back! You've no choice, Merry. You cannot go back now; you'll be killed!" Frodo turned his eyes away from Merry and looked back towards the Western shore. "You must come with me, though I wish it were not so. I am sorry, so sorry..." He leaned on the boat overcome with regret.

Merry stared at his cousin, not understanding. "Come where?" he choked.

Slowly, slowly, Frodo looked back at Merry with hazy eyes. "Mordor...." he breathed.

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"I shall go down to the shore and follow it back to the camp." Legolas said as he looked about the area for unbroken arrows; his quiver was empty. Gimli watched as his elf friend spoke in hasty tones, hardly looking at Aragorn or himself in his haste. "It may be that I shall find the little one on the bank, by the waterside."

"Legolas, I agree that we must not abandon hope until it has completely forsaken us, but I begrudge the delay. I do not think Pippin is dead; did you notice how the orcs left us soon after Boromir's horn ceased to sound? I guess that they came for the halflings, and finding one of them they fled. Perhaps they believed they had captured the ringbearer."

"What then of the true Ringbearer," Gimli asked. "Where is he, and the other, his servant."

"I guess that Frodo took that ambush for his advantage. I guess that he left us at last, and I can only reason that Sam went with him," Aragorn said.

"But you cannot know for certain." Legolas straightened up and slung his half-filled quiver onto his back. "He ran off, did he not, before the battle started?"

Aragorn thought for a moment. "Yes. I did not see Samwise after that."

"I will go look for the lad," Gimli said stoutly. "And if there are any orcs left out there straggling behind they will have Gimli the Dwarf to pay for the death of our companion."

"Are we to split up then?" Aragorn asked. "I would not council that, for that is what caused this disaster in the beginning."

"The orcs have fled, Aragorn. No doubt they were here for the purpose you suggested. I feel no more evil here, only a great sadness. It is as if the woods weep for the fallen," said Legolas.

Aragorn lowered his head for a moment and closed his eyes. New lines of worry creased his brown, and he looked far older than he had even the previous day. "All my previous decisions have gone astray. We shall not abandon any of our company if there is hope that they still live. You shall have your wishes. I shall tend to the fallen; I will not leave one of my kind out in the wilderness. He should have a funeral, at the least.

"But I beg you to come back before the sun is high. There is yet another decision we must make." What the decision was Aragorn would not say. Legolas and Gimli left him and he sat there beside the body of Boromir for a long time, deep in thought. After a time, the emotions became too much, and Aragorn son of Arathorn held tight to the white gem around his neck and wept.

*************************************************************

"Stop that racket!!"

Pippin was flung harshly to the ground, causing his cries to break off abruptly. Although his back now throbbed from the impact he quickly scurried backwards, trying to get away from the red-eyed orc who had dropped him. He did not get far, however, before the orc gave a shout and grabbed his ankle, effectively preventing Pippin from going any farther. Frantic, Pippin tried to turn over onto his belly and get away that way. The orc pulled him back roughly and Pippin yelped at the pain in his ankle.

"Stupid little rat," the orc growled under his breath, glaring at the frightened hobbit with anger and hatred in his eyes. He called to his kinsman in the twisted black language that was orc speak, gesturing at Pippin angrily as he did so.

Pippin shut his eyes, willing everything to go away. He was terrified, alone, and weary with grief. The sight of Merry tumbling off the cliff into the swirling waters below replayed constantly through his mind, as did the scene of Boromir, brave and strong, shot full of arrows trying desperately to save the two halflings. Pippin had no idea why the orcs had not killed him or where they were taking him. All he knew at the moment was that he was completely and utterly at the mercy of the demonic once-elves.

More claws grabbed Pippin's hands, forcing them together in front of his chest. He made himself open his eyes. The orcs, tired of his kicking and flailing, were binding him at the wrists and ankles. Pippin's possible chances of escaping were being stifled with that rope. Filled with a sudden fury the hobbit thrashed violently, trying anything to keep that dirty rope from tightening around his wrists.

One of the orcs laughed at Pippin's attempts and said his red-eyed companion "Looks like you're having a bit of difficulty with this runt, Ologghash. Make sure he don't bite you, or you'll get the foaming disease. And that would be terrible, wouldn't it?"

Ologghash shot the orc a death glare and pulled the ropes taut around Pippin's wrists with a final tug. Pippin stopped struggling, his hope fading. Who would help him now? Aragorn and the others would no doubt be going after Frodo. Pippin shut his eyes again, trying to find some good in the situation. At least Frodo and Sam had escaped, hadn't they? But Merry, poor Merry.......

Pippin shut his eyes again. Several tears escaped the confines of his lashes and cut two streaks in the dirt and grim on his cheeks. He felt himself be lifted again, felt Ologghash running. Pippin concentrated on the feel of air on his face until at last evil dreams took him and he passed into restless sleep.

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Gimli strode through the forest, his axe held at chest level, poised for an easy attack should any evil thing still be living and lying in wait for an easy kill. Cautiously the dwarf made his way back to the campsite where the Fellowship had been stationed what seemed days ago, though it had only been a few hours in reality. The bodies of fallen orcs littered the ground. Gimli stepped over them as he went, keeping his eyes on the ground looking for any clue as to where Frodo or Sam may have gone. However, the dwarf had not the scouting skills that Aragorn had nor the keen sight and hearing of Legolas. Try as he might, Gimli could not find a clear trail of where either hobbit had gone.

With a deep sigh Gimli halted and leaned on his axe in a grove of trees. The campsite was nearby and still he had found nothing, no track, no print, no anything. All was dead around him, just like in the vast chambers of Khazad-dum. No hope, just a vast empty wasteland full of death.

Suddenly enraged Gimli raised up his axe and shook it. "Death!! Death and torment!! Do any of you foul things still live out there!? Gimli the Dwarf wishes to repay you!!" Nothing. There was no answer, only the echo of Gimli's own voice. The orcs had all fled or been killed, as Legolas had said. Still Gimli's anger did not abate. He needed something to hit, something to take his anger out on. Whirling around he swung his axe at the nearest tree. It struck deep, causing a huge rent in the trunk.

Gimli immediately pulled the axe back and looked around. If Legolas had seen that he would have probably had a conniption fit. Luckily the elf was no where in sight. Gimli too felt guilty; what would the Lady say? Remorsefully Gimli put a rough hand over the cut in the trunk and leaned on it as if trying to convey his regret over his action. If the situation had been less grave he would have laughed. Apparently Legolas' influence had effected the dwarf, at no fault of Gimli's own. He suspected the Lady Galadriel had more to do with it than the woodland prince and that comforted him a bit. No influence of Galadriel's could ever be embarrassing.

Still leaning on the tree and thinking of the Lady of Light, Gimli cast his eyes on the ground. It was then that something caught his eye, glinting in the sunlight that peeked through the trees. Frowning Gimli looked closer, bending down and laying his axe on the forest floor. It was a blade, currently half buried by the torn earth. At the moment only the tip was visible but even Gimli could tell it was no orc weapon. Other thoughts forgotten of the moment the dwarf brushed away the dirt and fallen leaves and branches and pulled the short blade out. Immediately Gimli noticed the similarities between this blade and the one Aragorn had found in the bushes. There was no mistake. This short dagger was one of the weapons born by the hobbits.

Clutching the hilt of the blade tightly in his hand Gimli looked around the grove again. Many orc prints crossed over the spoiled land this way and that; there were several severed body parts as well. The dwarf quickly picked up his battle axe in his free hand and stood up. Part of the mystery appeared to have been solved.

*************************************************************

Frodo slung his pack onto his back and turned to gaze at the Western shore for the final time. Merry stood behind him, feeling as if he was in a dream. None of this could possibly be real. He and Frodo, setting out to Mordor alone? They could not possibly do it; Merry did not even have any supplies or a weapon. Besides that, they could not really be leaving Pippin and Sam behind in the midst of battle, could they? Perhaps Frodo believed that he was protecting the others. Merry could not be sure. He was not sure of anything anymore.

Silently the Brandybuck watched as Frodo stared back at the opposite side of the river. A tiny tear slipped from the corner of Frodo's eye, slide down his pale cheek, and plummeted to the dirt below. "Namarie...." Merry heard Frodo whisper. Any anger Merry had had towards his cousin melted away at the sight. He realized that Frodo probably felt as wretched about the entire thing as he did, and as much as Merry did not want to admit it, Frodo was right. They couldn't go back. The quest had to be carried out and wasn't the entire reason Merry had even left Buckland in the first place to help his elder cousin on the journey? Was that not the reason he was part of the Fellowship, so that the errand would not fail?

Full of pity, Merry put his hand on Frodo's frail shoulder. Frodo looked back at him sadly, then said, "Come on, Merry. We must go before I lose heart. I know Aragorn shall look after them. I only hope Sam understands....."

"I am sure that he will, Frodo. He understands you better than he understands himself. He guessed your mind before the orcs attacked," said Merry. Frodo looked glanced back at the opposite shore and turned away, feeling as if his heart would break. Then he walked up the bank, away from the boat and into the forest. Merry followed, half heartedly. He got several steps away before he could help himself no longer and turned to look back just as Frodo had. "I am with you, Peregrin Took," He said to the empty air. "You had better not forget that." Then he ran after his cousin as the sun sparkled on the water of the Rauros, a beauty of the afternoon that contradicted the horror of the morning.

TBC

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A/N: Yes, this is the end of the chapter. I meant to have Pippin meant yellow-eyes (who will receive a name in the next chapter ^_^), but I decided I liked this place to end. Also, I tried to play on the theme of "a higher power" in this chapter. Certain things happen in a chain of events (Gimli's striking the tree then finding Sam's sword because of it, for example.) I know this chapter hopped around a lot, but after the next chapter the story will likely switch to one storyline per chapter (Merry and Frodo in one, then Pippin and Sam in the next, then Aragorn and company, etc.). And for any of you wondering "Where's Sam?!" He will be in the next chapter to be sure. He was supposed to be in the part with Yellow-eyes and Pippin but since that got moved so did poor Samwise.

Ologghash=Troll fire (Black speech.) Note: Accents don't work on my computer.

Namarie=Farewell (Quenya.)

Any questions or suggestions for further chapters, let me know!!

Next Chapter: Pippin wakes up to find that he is not the only hobbit captured by the orcs. Yellow-eyes is thoroughly unpleasant. Sam comes face to face with Grishnakh, who knows that the reason behind the halfling's capture....

Meanwhile, Merry and Frodo are making their towards Mordor and Merry decides they need to find more food for the long journey ahead. Incidentally, he has a bit of an accident with Frodo's pack.....

Gimli reports his find to Aragorn. Legolas discovers Merry's fate. They bid farewell to Boromir over the falls. A decision must be made.....

Also, guest appearances by Haldir of Lorien and the Lady Galadriel....