CHAPTER TWENTY THREE: Taken.


"They took the Halflings," Boromir said in throe distress. "and. . ."


"And?" Legolas prompted, shifting Faith in his arms. "Where is Buffy? Have they taken Buffy too?"


"She killed that Orc. . ." Faith murmured, her eye swollen. ". . . and then they took her away."


"Who took her away? WHO?!" Legolas shouted.


Faith looked away sadly.


"Which way did Frodo and Sam go, Boromir?" Aragorn asked.


Boromir spoke nothing and Aragorn sighed, turning to the others in remorse. Faith had her face pressed against Legolas' neck, tears streaking her bruised face and her soft sobbing heard muffled against the solemn Elf. Gimli remained impassive at his side, though his eyes were sparkling with remorse.


"Alas! Boromir son of Denethor has finally fallen into a peaceful sleep, and let his worries worry him no more!" Aragorn kissed Boromir's brow lightly and sighed heavily. "Let us lay him in a boat and let his body lead itself pass the Anduin and as far as he can. He does not belong among the fallen Orcs."


They had gathered some of the fallen bodies of the Orcs and piled them together, and at the last Orc Aragorn had came across an Elven blade under a set of leaves. He stooped and picked it up,


"This is no Orc blade," he said wearily. "These are Hobbit weapons. They must have despoiled them when they took Pippin and Merry into captivity."


"Buffy." Legolas said in torment. "Her. . . her blade. It has been despoiled as well."


"Then it is in vain!" Aragorn announced. "We shall have to recover Buffy, Pippin and Merry from the Orcs and take them back to where they belong."


"We cannot let them suffer, for we all know what Uruk- Hai are like with females," Gimli said.


"Saruman has Buffy for a reason." Faith said, sniffling. "She's the Slayer isn't she? That's why the Orc things took her away, because Saruman wanted her. Just like all the other bad guys. . . it's a curse for her."


"If Saruman does anything to harm Buffy," Legolas said, gripping the handle of Beren tightly. "I will kill him."


"Not if I get the chance." Faith added angrily. "He had his people kill Boromir. He will pay."


"Then let us go and let Boromir be!" Aragorn ordered in a demanding tone. "Frodo and Sam have already crossed the shore, and we will have to hurry if we want to catch up with the others before they are taken to Isengard."


And that was the end of the Fellowship. Perhaps it was all in vain, after all. Buffy is the Slayer. She can take care of herself. . . right?