Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Ring Possesses
A/N: I know what you're all thinking from the title. Greenleaf! The ring Aila got from Lady Galadriel possesses her?! OH MY GOD! But … no. This story isn't THAT dark … in such early chapters. What am I saying? This isn't an early chapter? It's chapter 27 for Chad's sake. (Ah, Chad … he gave me gum today. DON'T WORRY THOUGH, I'm not so obsessed that I bronzed it. Uh wait … yeah, just kidding ^_^) I love this chapter, it's so sweet! Legolas almost slips … ha ha ha. What a demonic web I weave.
…
"What do you mean?" cried Pippin from her side, grasping her hands from her knees.
"What do I mean? This what I mean: from what I know, I'm not even supposed to be on this mission with you guys anyway! I know exactly what is going to happen to each and every one of you, but not myself, because I wasn't in the record. My theory is that I'm won't live through this to have a say in the writing of its history. I am beginning to think this isn't an alternate world at all, but rather I was swung into the past. Like during the Dark Ages or something, where we have little or no records of. And that when this quest is over, Bilbo will write of it and over the centuries, when elves have vanished, the book will be lost. Millennia will pass and then somehow JRR Tolkien will get his hands on it. He'll translate it or whatever, and then publish it as his own. I'm not in that book, you see? I think I am going to be killed or murdered or something. But generally, I will die and be forgotten, and left out of the records."
"You will never be forgotten," said Legolas, looking meaningfully at her from across the campfire.
"Do not worry and do not speak like that," intervened Aragorn. "You will not fail in your task, Aila." She would have smiled at him, but her eyes were downcast and she participated no more in the conversation. When it was completely dark around them, the entire Company settled down for the night. Several times they had asked Aila if she was all right, but she never responded verbally, simply nodding her head that she was fine. She remained withdrawn and Aragorn questioned whether she were up to taking watch, because it was her turn to take first watch.
"I'm more than capable of keeping my eyes open," she snapped. Aila could tell that Aragorn was reluctant to allow her to watch, not because he feared for the safety of the Company, but because he feared for her mental safety. However, Aila didn't give in and eventually he gave in and she sat upon a stone in the barren land, watching for two hours, totally alone with her thoughts.
Aragorn's words and confidence in her were all but comforting. The best way to know the future is to look to the past, she had heard someone say one time. If that was true, Aila would positively fail in her "mission" to find love. She had never loved and didn't find herself capable of it. Tears streamed freely down her face and stained her cheeks. Her nose was stuffed so she breathed through her mouth. Her two hours of watch dragged on and she worried herself sick during those hours when Legolas finally came to relieve her.
"What's wrong?" he cried upon seeing her tearful face. Legolas sat down beside her on the wide rock and looked questioningly up into her bowed face. Aila would have lied and said it was nothing, excusing herself and rolling into a bundle of blankets. But she found herself being truthful with Legolas.
"I fear this whole love thing, you know? I've never loved before. Not even my parents or my brothers. Sometimes, I doubt if I'm even capable of loving. I've never listened to my heart before, my emotions were always controlled by my mind. How can I listen to it now, that I've ignored it for so long? How can I love?"
"I would show you …" trailed Legolas, but he never finished his sentence, fearing what she may think if he did.
"Do you really think love can be taught, mellonim?" she asked, mistaking him. "If you would teach and I would learn, I wouldn't be worried about this at all. But it can't, Legolas. My handicap doesn't lie in learning. I am disabled when it comes to love." She choked through sobs and Legolas had no idea how to calm her down. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his lap. "Plus," she added, "I'm supposed to have an elven child, right? Which means I fall in love with an elf. But elves are immortal and I am not, Legolas. I can't stand the thought of whoever I fall in love with looking exactly the same and myself growing old and bent with disease." Legolas rubbed her back for some time, trying desperately to relax her as Aila cried into his chest for several more minutes, her sobs shaking his body as well as her own. Pulling herself into him, Aila continued, pouring out all of her worries for Legolas to hear.
"I have never listened to my heart. I always thought it made you weak to have such emotions."
"Not all who love are weak, Aila. Aragorn loves Arwen, but he is strong. I love many things. Am I weak?"
"No," she said, her voice muffled against the cloth of his tunic. "You are the strongest person I know." Releasing herself from his grasp, Aila reached up and wiped the tears from her eyes. "I just don't know what I'm going to do," she said, lingering tears thickening her voice. That was when she caught sight of Legolas' tunic, wet from her tears. She reached out and touched the wet spot in the middle of his chest. "I am sorry," she smiled. Legolas said nothing but pulled her to his bedroll, which was closest and sat her down upon it. He handed her a blanket and she curled up under it, her hair falling from the loose braid and across her face.
Reaching down, Legolas pushed the hair from her face and she opened her eyes and gave him such a pitiful look that he wanted to crawl under the blanket with her and hold her against him until everything was all right again. He left back to his post and trusted her to sleep.
"Diola lle, mellonim," she whispered as he left. Whether he heard her or not, she never knew, but tears began to stream down her face once more, but quietly as she fell into sleep. She watched Legolas sit upon the rock, gazing out about the campsite and she pulled the blankets tightly against her up to her chin. She fell asleep knowing that she should love Legolas, but she knew it was as she said: she couldn't love.
…
When he was relieved by Merry, Legolas walked to find Aila's spare bedroll, since she was asleep on his. As he passed her sleeping form, he saw her flip over onto her right arm, her left arm showing bare above the blanket. In the moonlight, he saw the silver tracery of a scar. A scar that he had inflicted upon her himself and he felt his heart sink to his feet. The urge to protect her against anything swept over him again and as he settled in for sleep he vowed to himself once more. To protect her and to be her friend, nothing more.
…
When she had awaken in the morning, she heard that Gollum was following them and she immediately registered which page they were at in the book. Aragorn bid them to paddle for long times with short breaks in between now, so the country passed by swiftly. They traveled by night and slept by day, as hidden as the no-man's land allowed.
They had come to the eighth night of their journey when Sam gave a cry that dark shapes were looming ahead of them. The current quickened and Boromir began shouting as his boat crashed into that of Aragorn. Behind her, Aila heard Legolas struggling against the current.
"Hoy there, Aragorn!" shouted Boromir. "This is madness! We cannot dare the Rapids by night; but no boat can live in Sarn Gebir, be it night or day."
"Turn, turn if you can," cried Aragorn in reply. Gimli thrust a paddle into Aila hand and she began back-paddling with all of her might. Somehow she knew exactly what to do and she called out to Gimli, who possessed much more strength in the arm than she did. With Legolas in the back swinging the boat around, Aila pushed Gimli's efforts onward as she furiously beat the water with her paddle to paddle against the current towards shore.
Arrows began to fly through the air and Aila briefly wondered where they came from before she remembered the chapter in the Trilogy on this very night.
"Orcs," cried Gimli. Arrows flew over their heads and plowed into the water before them, but none made their mark. Mentally, she thanked the Galadhrim and their gray cloaks and boats, which served to camouflage them so the malicious orc archers could not sight them.
"Take care," she cried out to them all. Stroke by stroke the Company labored upon their paddles and Aila wondered if it would ever end, or if it would end before she collapsed of exhaustion. Slowly, however, the swirl began to grow less and they were able to make their way easier to the opposite shore than the orcs, turning their boats to the westward shore. Hiding beneath the bushes they all attempted to catch their breath.
Legolas stood and pulled forth his bow to send arrows back at the orcs. Pulling out her own bow, Aila joined him, pulling an arrow from her quiver and placed it upon her bowstring. They could find no mark to shoot at across the river, however, in the darkness. They stood like two statues, only their eyes moving searching out the orcs. Then, a sudden dread fell upon the Company and instinctively they looked upward, Aila and Legolas among them.
A cloud advanced, like a flying rider, hiding all of the light behind it. It drew in front of them, spreading its seemingly feathered wings. Fell voices greeted it from across the water and Aila stomach knotted in horror. Before she even thought of raising her bow to it, the bow of Lorien sang and the elven arrow gave a shrill cry as it flew hurriedly toward the creature. The winged shape swerved and a vicious cry rent the air about them. Cries and curses met their ears from the eastern shore as it tumbled to the ground that way. Neither shaft nor cry bothered them again all night.
"Praise be the bow of Galadriel, and the hand and eye of Legolas," said Gimli. "That was a mighty shot in the dark, my friend!"
"But who can say what it hit?" asked Legolas.
"It doesn't matter," said Aila, shivering against her fear of the silence that surrounded her as the Company each lay huddled in their boats. Her head rested upon Legolas' knee, her own knee served as a pillow for Gimli. "It was evil and that's all that matters. Who cares what you kill as long as it is a foe?"
"So it seems," said Aragorn. "Yet we do not know how many of our enemies surround us now. Or where they are or what they plan. This night we must all be sleepless! Dark hides us now, but what the day will show who can tell? Have you weapons close at hand!"
…
The night passed slowly and Aila held quiet conversation with Legolas and Gimli. In the morning a fog covered the land like a blanket and the Company spoke of what to do next. It was agreed that Aragorn and Legolas would go forward to find a path that Aragorn spoke of past the rapids to a portage-way onto the river once more. When the two explorers disappeared the remaining Company sat upon the ground, their weapons nigh at hand as they awaited their return of their companions. Aila's hand remained on her bow, an arrow in her other hand, ready to spring forward if needed. Gimli fingered his axe while the hobbits tapped their hilts and Boromir paced, his hand resting upon his golden belt.
Two figures appeared in the fog and Aila leapt up, stringing an arrow upon her bow.
"Friend or foe?" she cried to the two outlines in the mist.
"Friend!" she heard a voice call that was unmistakably Legolas'.
"What tidings to you bring?" she called back. "Tell the Company that you have found the road." She dropped her bow down and pulled the arrow from the string, placing it back into her quiver. Threading the bow onto her shoulder, she walked forward to meet the two.
"All is well," said Aragorn so the entire Company could hear. "We have found the path. It is not far from here and it will not be much farther until the rapids are gone again."
"That will not be easy," said Boromir, "even if we were all men."
"Yet such as we are we will try it," replied Aragorn. Though the boats proved so light that Aila could carry hers singularly with much ease across the flat ground, it proved very difficult for her to carry it across the rocky ground that led to the path. So one by one, Aragorn and Boromir, strong men that they were, carried the boats across the land and left the others to struggle across the land as well with the baggage.
Looking upon the rocky outcrop, Aila heaved a huge sigh and counted the times she would fall in her clumsiness. She struggled carefully across it however, well aware of Legolas' watchful eye upon her back as he hung back behind her. He was always close at hand, but this time she felt the need to prove she could take care of herself at least across the rocky expanse. She congratulated herself as she made it through unscathed to the portage-way and they set the boats in the pool that had been scooped by the water from the rapids.
But they did not leave on the river again that night for everyone was tired from their long bout of wakefulness. They took watch in pairs that night, Legolas with Gimli, Aragorn and Boromir, Aila took watch with Merry and Pippin, and Frodo and Sam took last watch. There was a brief drizzle of rain an hour before dawn, but just enough to cool the air and dampen Aila's hair a bit.
…
The river was broad and slow but soon it bottlenecked into a small, swift channel. The hills of Emyn Muil surrounded them and Aila saw two great rock pillars approaching them. Aragorn gave the order for them to put the boats into single file, as far apart as they could, to hold the center of the river. The statues of the kings rose above them, holding out their palms, warning those who passed. Aila saw the entire Company bow their heads at the awesome spectacle, but she lifted her head, gazing up at the wonderful masonry, awed by the details in even the smallest.
Once they passed the great statues, they ate some lembas, took up their paddles, and hastened on their way. Their tenth day of passage was at an end and no longer could they delay a choice between Gondor or Mordor.
Awaking in the morning, Aila dreaded the day and what it would hold for the Company. For worse, but eventually better, she supposed. Boromir gave her breakfast and she felt a burning sensation in her nose as she looked upon him, her eyes welling in tears. She did not shed them, however, but turned her face from the Gondor-man and ate her food silently. No longer able to look upon his strong face.
"The day has come at last," said Aragorn while she was just finishing her breakfast: "the day of choice which we have long delayed. What shall now become of our Company that has traveled so far in fellowship? Shall we turn west with Boromir and go to the wars of Gondor; or turn east to the Fear and Shadow; or shall we break our Fellowship and go this way and that as each may choose? Whatever we do must be done soon. We cannot halt here long. The enemy is on the eastern shore, we know; but I fear that the Orcs may already be on this side of the water.
"Well, Frodo," said Aragorn after a long silence. "I fear that the burden is laid upon you. You are the Bearer appointed by the Council. Your own way you alone can choose. In this matter I cannot advise you I am not Gandalf, and though I have tried to bear his part, I do not know what design or hope he had for this hour, if indeed he had any. Most likely it seems that if he were here now the choice would still wait on you. Such is your fate." Frodo spoke clearly and with measured breaths after a few moments of pondering his answer.
"I know that haste is needed, yet I cannot choose. The burden is heavy. Give me an hour longer, and I will speak. Let me be alone!" Frodo stood up and left, Aila already knew his decision and wished against hope she could stop what was about to occur, but she knew it was useless to disturb fate. The Company spoke further upon other matters while they waited for the Ring-bearer to return.
Aila's eyes remained riveted on Boromir's feet, but she didn't look at him or anyone else. She did not participate in their conversation, either; Legolas and Aragorn both worried about her withdrawal. As well as Gimli, who was mildly curious about her solitude. She was the only who noticed Boromir stand up and walk away into the trees where Frodo had disappeared hours before. Silent tears streamed down her cheeks, but no one noticed, because she held her face downwards and looked into her lap.
…
A knot formed in Aila's stomach, causing pain that she did not heed, when she saw Boromir return. After some conversation, Sam was surprised and horrified.
"An hour since he vanished!" he shouted, speaking of Frodo and his belated return. "We must try and find him at once. Come on!" Aragorn shouted for them to form pairs, but none of the hobbits paid heed to him.
"Boromir!" he cried, "Go after those two young hobbits, and guard them at the least, even if you cannot find Frodo. Come back to this spot, if you find him, or any traces of him. I shall return soon." Boromir chased after the two young hobbits, Sam went with Aragorn and Aila followed after Gimli and Legolas, who had long since dashed into the forest. "Aila, what pair are you of?"
"None," she replied. "I know exactly where to go. I will see you in a few minutes, Aragorn." Leaving her to herself, Aragorn took off for the seat upon the hill, pulling Sam with him. After several minutes of hiding in the bushes near their campsite, Aila saw Sam return just as a boat pushed mysteriously off the shore, a paddle moving of its own accord. She watched Sam flounder in the water and then join Frodo on the boat as they made their way to Mordor, smiling to herself, Aila almost forgot what was about to happen next, until a horn blew not too far off and dread flooded her mind.
…
A/N: Wow, what with this new trend of putting author's notes after the story? I don't know, but I'm doing it! THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS YOU GUYS. Oh yeah, and be freaking proud of me, I typed 144 words per minute today in Computer Lit … ha. My goal is to be able to type 150 by the end of the semester, which is when the class ends. Wish me luck! Okay, well I just had to write this chapter up for you guys, because I still feel really bad about causing myself to get "frozen" and shit, so there you go. RANDOM THOUGHT OF THE DAY: You know what I love (besides Chad …)? Sarcasm. Yea.
A/N: I know what you're all thinking from the title. Greenleaf! The ring Aila got from Lady Galadriel possesses her?! OH MY GOD! But … no. This story isn't THAT dark … in such early chapters. What am I saying? This isn't an early chapter? It's chapter 27 for Chad's sake. (Ah, Chad … he gave me gum today. DON'T WORRY THOUGH, I'm not so obsessed that I bronzed it. Uh wait … yeah, just kidding ^_^) I love this chapter, it's so sweet! Legolas almost slips … ha ha ha. What a demonic web I weave.
…
"What do you mean?" cried Pippin from her side, grasping her hands from her knees.
"What do I mean? This what I mean: from what I know, I'm not even supposed to be on this mission with you guys anyway! I know exactly what is going to happen to each and every one of you, but not myself, because I wasn't in the record. My theory is that I'm won't live through this to have a say in the writing of its history. I am beginning to think this isn't an alternate world at all, but rather I was swung into the past. Like during the Dark Ages or something, where we have little or no records of. And that when this quest is over, Bilbo will write of it and over the centuries, when elves have vanished, the book will be lost. Millennia will pass and then somehow JRR Tolkien will get his hands on it. He'll translate it or whatever, and then publish it as his own. I'm not in that book, you see? I think I am going to be killed or murdered or something. But generally, I will die and be forgotten, and left out of the records."
"You will never be forgotten," said Legolas, looking meaningfully at her from across the campfire.
"Do not worry and do not speak like that," intervened Aragorn. "You will not fail in your task, Aila." She would have smiled at him, but her eyes were downcast and she participated no more in the conversation. When it was completely dark around them, the entire Company settled down for the night. Several times they had asked Aila if she was all right, but she never responded verbally, simply nodding her head that she was fine. She remained withdrawn and Aragorn questioned whether she were up to taking watch, because it was her turn to take first watch.
"I'm more than capable of keeping my eyes open," she snapped. Aila could tell that Aragorn was reluctant to allow her to watch, not because he feared for the safety of the Company, but because he feared for her mental safety. However, Aila didn't give in and eventually he gave in and she sat upon a stone in the barren land, watching for two hours, totally alone with her thoughts.
Aragorn's words and confidence in her were all but comforting. The best way to know the future is to look to the past, she had heard someone say one time. If that was true, Aila would positively fail in her "mission" to find love. She had never loved and didn't find herself capable of it. Tears streamed freely down her face and stained her cheeks. Her nose was stuffed so she breathed through her mouth. Her two hours of watch dragged on and she worried herself sick during those hours when Legolas finally came to relieve her.
"What's wrong?" he cried upon seeing her tearful face. Legolas sat down beside her on the wide rock and looked questioningly up into her bowed face. Aila would have lied and said it was nothing, excusing herself and rolling into a bundle of blankets. But she found herself being truthful with Legolas.
"I fear this whole love thing, you know? I've never loved before. Not even my parents or my brothers. Sometimes, I doubt if I'm even capable of loving. I've never listened to my heart before, my emotions were always controlled by my mind. How can I listen to it now, that I've ignored it for so long? How can I love?"
"I would show you …" trailed Legolas, but he never finished his sentence, fearing what she may think if he did.
"Do you really think love can be taught, mellonim?" she asked, mistaking him. "If you would teach and I would learn, I wouldn't be worried about this at all. But it can't, Legolas. My handicap doesn't lie in learning. I am disabled when it comes to love." She choked through sobs and Legolas had no idea how to calm her down. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his lap. "Plus," she added, "I'm supposed to have an elven child, right? Which means I fall in love with an elf. But elves are immortal and I am not, Legolas. I can't stand the thought of whoever I fall in love with looking exactly the same and myself growing old and bent with disease." Legolas rubbed her back for some time, trying desperately to relax her as Aila cried into his chest for several more minutes, her sobs shaking his body as well as her own. Pulling herself into him, Aila continued, pouring out all of her worries for Legolas to hear.
"I have never listened to my heart. I always thought it made you weak to have such emotions."
"Not all who love are weak, Aila. Aragorn loves Arwen, but he is strong. I love many things. Am I weak?"
"No," she said, her voice muffled against the cloth of his tunic. "You are the strongest person I know." Releasing herself from his grasp, Aila reached up and wiped the tears from her eyes. "I just don't know what I'm going to do," she said, lingering tears thickening her voice. That was when she caught sight of Legolas' tunic, wet from her tears. She reached out and touched the wet spot in the middle of his chest. "I am sorry," she smiled. Legolas said nothing but pulled her to his bedroll, which was closest and sat her down upon it. He handed her a blanket and she curled up under it, her hair falling from the loose braid and across her face.
Reaching down, Legolas pushed the hair from her face and she opened her eyes and gave him such a pitiful look that he wanted to crawl under the blanket with her and hold her against him until everything was all right again. He left back to his post and trusted her to sleep.
"Diola lle, mellonim," she whispered as he left. Whether he heard her or not, she never knew, but tears began to stream down her face once more, but quietly as she fell into sleep. She watched Legolas sit upon the rock, gazing out about the campsite and she pulled the blankets tightly against her up to her chin. She fell asleep knowing that she should love Legolas, but she knew it was as she said: she couldn't love.
…
When he was relieved by Merry, Legolas walked to find Aila's spare bedroll, since she was asleep on his. As he passed her sleeping form, he saw her flip over onto her right arm, her left arm showing bare above the blanket. In the moonlight, he saw the silver tracery of a scar. A scar that he had inflicted upon her himself and he felt his heart sink to his feet. The urge to protect her against anything swept over him again and as he settled in for sleep he vowed to himself once more. To protect her and to be her friend, nothing more.
…
When she had awaken in the morning, she heard that Gollum was following them and she immediately registered which page they were at in the book. Aragorn bid them to paddle for long times with short breaks in between now, so the country passed by swiftly. They traveled by night and slept by day, as hidden as the no-man's land allowed.
They had come to the eighth night of their journey when Sam gave a cry that dark shapes were looming ahead of them. The current quickened and Boromir began shouting as his boat crashed into that of Aragorn. Behind her, Aila heard Legolas struggling against the current.
"Hoy there, Aragorn!" shouted Boromir. "This is madness! We cannot dare the Rapids by night; but no boat can live in Sarn Gebir, be it night or day."
"Turn, turn if you can," cried Aragorn in reply. Gimli thrust a paddle into Aila hand and she began back-paddling with all of her might. Somehow she knew exactly what to do and she called out to Gimli, who possessed much more strength in the arm than she did. With Legolas in the back swinging the boat around, Aila pushed Gimli's efforts onward as she furiously beat the water with her paddle to paddle against the current towards shore.
Arrows began to fly through the air and Aila briefly wondered where they came from before she remembered the chapter in the Trilogy on this very night.
"Orcs," cried Gimli. Arrows flew over their heads and plowed into the water before them, but none made their mark. Mentally, she thanked the Galadhrim and their gray cloaks and boats, which served to camouflage them so the malicious orc archers could not sight them.
"Take care," she cried out to them all. Stroke by stroke the Company labored upon their paddles and Aila wondered if it would ever end, or if it would end before she collapsed of exhaustion. Slowly, however, the swirl began to grow less and they were able to make their way easier to the opposite shore than the orcs, turning their boats to the westward shore. Hiding beneath the bushes they all attempted to catch their breath.
Legolas stood and pulled forth his bow to send arrows back at the orcs. Pulling out her own bow, Aila joined him, pulling an arrow from her quiver and placed it upon her bowstring. They could find no mark to shoot at across the river, however, in the darkness. They stood like two statues, only their eyes moving searching out the orcs. Then, a sudden dread fell upon the Company and instinctively they looked upward, Aila and Legolas among them.
A cloud advanced, like a flying rider, hiding all of the light behind it. It drew in front of them, spreading its seemingly feathered wings. Fell voices greeted it from across the water and Aila stomach knotted in horror. Before she even thought of raising her bow to it, the bow of Lorien sang and the elven arrow gave a shrill cry as it flew hurriedly toward the creature. The winged shape swerved and a vicious cry rent the air about them. Cries and curses met their ears from the eastern shore as it tumbled to the ground that way. Neither shaft nor cry bothered them again all night.
"Praise be the bow of Galadriel, and the hand and eye of Legolas," said Gimli. "That was a mighty shot in the dark, my friend!"
"But who can say what it hit?" asked Legolas.
"It doesn't matter," said Aila, shivering against her fear of the silence that surrounded her as the Company each lay huddled in their boats. Her head rested upon Legolas' knee, her own knee served as a pillow for Gimli. "It was evil and that's all that matters. Who cares what you kill as long as it is a foe?"
"So it seems," said Aragorn. "Yet we do not know how many of our enemies surround us now. Or where they are or what they plan. This night we must all be sleepless! Dark hides us now, but what the day will show who can tell? Have you weapons close at hand!"
…
The night passed slowly and Aila held quiet conversation with Legolas and Gimli. In the morning a fog covered the land like a blanket and the Company spoke of what to do next. It was agreed that Aragorn and Legolas would go forward to find a path that Aragorn spoke of past the rapids to a portage-way onto the river once more. When the two explorers disappeared the remaining Company sat upon the ground, their weapons nigh at hand as they awaited their return of their companions. Aila's hand remained on her bow, an arrow in her other hand, ready to spring forward if needed. Gimli fingered his axe while the hobbits tapped their hilts and Boromir paced, his hand resting upon his golden belt.
Two figures appeared in the fog and Aila leapt up, stringing an arrow upon her bow.
"Friend or foe?" she cried to the two outlines in the mist.
"Friend!" she heard a voice call that was unmistakably Legolas'.
"What tidings to you bring?" she called back. "Tell the Company that you have found the road." She dropped her bow down and pulled the arrow from the string, placing it back into her quiver. Threading the bow onto her shoulder, she walked forward to meet the two.
"All is well," said Aragorn so the entire Company could hear. "We have found the path. It is not far from here and it will not be much farther until the rapids are gone again."
"That will not be easy," said Boromir, "even if we were all men."
"Yet such as we are we will try it," replied Aragorn. Though the boats proved so light that Aila could carry hers singularly with much ease across the flat ground, it proved very difficult for her to carry it across the rocky ground that led to the path. So one by one, Aragorn and Boromir, strong men that they were, carried the boats across the land and left the others to struggle across the land as well with the baggage.
Looking upon the rocky outcrop, Aila heaved a huge sigh and counted the times she would fall in her clumsiness. She struggled carefully across it however, well aware of Legolas' watchful eye upon her back as he hung back behind her. He was always close at hand, but this time she felt the need to prove she could take care of herself at least across the rocky expanse. She congratulated herself as she made it through unscathed to the portage-way and they set the boats in the pool that had been scooped by the water from the rapids.
But they did not leave on the river again that night for everyone was tired from their long bout of wakefulness. They took watch in pairs that night, Legolas with Gimli, Aragorn and Boromir, Aila took watch with Merry and Pippin, and Frodo and Sam took last watch. There was a brief drizzle of rain an hour before dawn, but just enough to cool the air and dampen Aila's hair a bit.
…
The river was broad and slow but soon it bottlenecked into a small, swift channel. The hills of Emyn Muil surrounded them and Aila saw two great rock pillars approaching them. Aragorn gave the order for them to put the boats into single file, as far apart as they could, to hold the center of the river. The statues of the kings rose above them, holding out their palms, warning those who passed. Aila saw the entire Company bow their heads at the awesome spectacle, but she lifted her head, gazing up at the wonderful masonry, awed by the details in even the smallest.
Once they passed the great statues, they ate some lembas, took up their paddles, and hastened on their way. Their tenth day of passage was at an end and no longer could they delay a choice between Gondor or Mordor.
Awaking in the morning, Aila dreaded the day and what it would hold for the Company. For worse, but eventually better, she supposed. Boromir gave her breakfast and she felt a burning sensation in her nose as she looked upon him, her eyes welling in tears. She did not shed them, however, but turned her face from the Gondor-man and ate her food silently. No longer able to look upon his strong face.
"The day has come at last," said Aragorn while she was just finishing her breakfast: "the day of choice which we have long delayed. What shall now become of our Company that has traveled so far in fellowship? Shall we turn west with Boromir and go to the wars of Gondor; or turn east to the Fear and Shadow; or shall we break our Fellowship and go this way and that as each may choose? Whatever we do must be done soon. We cannot halt here long. The enemy is on the eastern shore, we know; but I fear that the Orcs may already be on this side of the water.
"Well, Frodo," said Aragorn after a long silence. "I fear that the burden is laid upon you. You are the Bearer appointed by the Council. Your own way you alone can choose. In this matter I cannot advise you I am not Gandalf, and though I have tried to bear his part, I do not know what design or hope he had for this hour, if indeed he had any. Most likely it seems that if he were here now the choice would still wait on you. Such is your fate." Frodo spoke clearly and with measured breaths after a few moments of pondering his answer.
"I know that haste is needed, yet I cannot choose. The burden is heavy. Give me an hour longer, and I will speak. Let me be alone!" Frodo stood up and left, Aila already knew his decision and wished against hope she could stop what was about to occur, but she knew it was useless to disturb fate. The Company spoke further upon other matters while they waited for the Ring-bearer to return.
Aila's eyes remained riveted on Boromir's feet, but she didn't look at him or anyone else. She did not participate in their conversation, either; Legolas and Aragorn both worried about her withdrawal. As well as Gimli, who was mildly curious about her solitude. She was the only who noticed Boromir stand up and walk away into the trees where Frodo had disappeared hours before. Silent tears streamed down her cheeks, but no one noticed, because she held her face downwards and looked into her lap.
…
A knot formed in Aila's stomach, causing pain that she did not heed, when she saw Boromir return. After some conversation, Sam was surprised and horrified.
"An hour since he vanished!" he shouted, speaking of Frodo and his belated return. "We must try and find him at once. Come on!" Aragorn shouted for them to form pairs, but none of the hobbits paid heed to him.
"Boromir!" he cried, "Go after those two young hobbits, and guard them at the least, even if you cannot find Frodo. Come back to this spot, if you find him, or any traces of him. I shall return soon." Boromir chased after the two young hobbits, Sam went with Aragorn and Aila followed after Gimli and Legolas, who had long since dashed into the forest. "Aila, what pair are you of?"
"None," she replied. "I know exactly where to go. I will see you in a few minutes, Aragorn." Leaving her to herself, Aragorn took off for the seat upon the hill, pulling Sam with him. After several minutes of hiding in the bushes near their campsite, Aila saw Sam return just as a boat pushed mysteriously off the shore, a paddle moving of its own accord. She watched Sam flounder in the water and then join Frodo on the boat as they made their way to Mordor, smiling to herself, Aila almost forgot what was about to happen next, until a horn blew not too far off and dread flooded her mind.
…
A/N: Wow, what with this new trend of putting author's notes after the story? I don't know, but I'm doing it! THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS YOU GUYS. Oh yeah, and be freaking proud of me, I typed 144 words per minute today in Computer Lit … ha. My goal is to be able to type 150 by the end of the semester, which is when the class ends. Wish me luck! Okay, well I just had to write this chapter up for you guys, because I still feel really bad about causing myself to get "frozen" and shit, so there you go. RANDOM THOUGHT OF THE DAY: You know what I love (besides Chad …)? Sarcasm. Yea.