The view was superb. I was sharing a boat with Legolas and Gimli who were tolerant of my open mouthed staring. I hadn't been too ill on this voyage, since it was only on a river and not on a sea. But my pleasure in the voyage and the company I kept was slightly dimmed by the events that I knew were going to happen. My only vague consolation was that the Uruk-Hai would probably not be looking for me, so hiding up a tree until they all went away. It was either that or hinder the Fellowship as they fought for their lives.

Apart from these rather gloomy thoughts, it was rather pleasant.

And then came the day when we saw the Argonath. My jaw dropped open as I saw those massive stone edifices, looking not so much as carved people, but stone sentinels of some forgotten age, awaiting only the call to let them awaken once more.

"Isildur and Anarion." I murmured to myself as we began to pass underneath them, their shadows darkening the water we passed over. My eyes followed their forms upward, to their stern gazes that stared outward from Gondor, one arm raised to forbid the passage of foes.

And then we emerged into a wide lake, with an island in the centre. At the far end of the lake, a huge waterfall cascaded, its rumble filling the air. We were almost at Parth Galen.

We beached the boats on a shingle strand, embedding them firmly. The paddles were stowed neatly away and we carried our belongings out.

"If I never see a boat again it'll be too soon." I muttered, recieving a grin from Gimli.

As I settled myself against a rock, one ear listening to Legolas's speech about a shadow and a threat, I was scanning around for a good hiding place. I was debating what to tell Aragorn when I realised that I could just hide here. The Uruk-Hai didn't come to check on the boats as far as I was aware, and since the Fellowship spilt to find Frodo and Boromir, my absence would go unnoticed. "You're quiet Jen." Pippin commented as he sat down beside me, eyes lingering on the fire where he was probably hoping a meal would be cooked. "Just thinking Pippin." I told him, resting one hand on his shoulder and resisting the urge to ruffle his hair.

"At least you're stopped swearing so much."

I grinned. "That's because I've become used to what's happening here. And am feeling better about it."

He nodded. "Its the same with me and Merry I think. We came along to help Frodo, but have found ourselves, if that makes any sense at all."

"It does." But I racked my brains for a way to convey what I knew was coming. "But I find it comforting to think that no matter what happens, everything will be alright in the end. If given the chance again, I don't think I'd had missed tagging along with the Fellowship."

Our conversation peetered out as the food started to cook, sending tantalising aromas towards us. And to be truthful, there wasn't much else to say.

I slithered slightly way from the rest, and watched a first Frodo and then Boromir disappeared from the camp.

I listened to the conversation between Aragorn and Gimli, and nodded along with them. But I did pay attention to his directions, since I would be travelling with them. I only hoped that I could keep up with them.

"Where's Frodo?" Sam asked, looking around concernedly. Aragorn's eyes flicked to Boromir's neatly set out place.

As they split up to try and find the pair, I volunteered to wait here in case they should return, and wonder where everyone was.

Once everyone had departed, I hastily climbed the nearest tree, taking one of the blankets with me.

I sat there securely on one of the branches, my back pressed firmly against the truck, blanket wrapped round me, sword in hand.

I started to shiver as the noises of the battle began, and I heard the crashing footsteps of the Uruk-Hai. I was reduced to a trembling wreck, and as I heard the cry of 'Elendil!' ring out, I shut my eyes, trying to block out the knowledge of what I knew was going to happen.

The sound of the Horn of Gondor rang out in a powerful blast, and I know that I started to cry, picturing the scene in my mind.

I heard Frodo's skittering footsteps on the shingle as he stood and looked out over the water. As he pushed the boat out and started to paddle away, I opened my eyes and saw him moving away. I watched as Sam waded into the water after the departing boat.

"Good luck to you on your quest, and may the Valar watch over you." I murmured as the two began to paddle away to the other side of the river.

Now all I had to do was await the return of the three that I would be travelling with.

They came, looking weary and bloodstained. Their eyes were reddened with the tears that they had shed over Boromir's death, but Aragorn's expression was resolved. He knew what they must do. I slid down from my concealing tree, and waited for them.

"Are you alright Jen?" Gimli asked, his face concerned for me. I nodded in response. I saw his mouth open, forming the first syllables of Boromir, but moved in to forestall him.

"I know." I said gently. "In my world, your story is common, and I knew what was going to happen. That's why I hid here. I couldn't bear to see what was going to happen. And my skills with the sword are not the best, and I didn't dare risk that one of you would be killed defending me."

Tears welled in my eyes as I tried to explain why I had hidden in the tree, but the understanding in their eyes cut my sentences off.

"I guessed something like that caused your quietness.' Aragorn said, moving to rest one hand on my shoulder. "Lady Galadriel told me you carried the burden of future knowledge."

"Thank you for understanding." I said, with a grateful smile.

Legolas's eyes flicked up to the other shore, and his eyes widened as his elven eyes caught recognisable movement. He moved to the boats, starting to push one out.

"Hurry, Frodo and Sam have reached the Eastern Shore!" he called, before he caught Aragorn's expression. The eager light in his eyes faded, and he said softly. "You mean not to follow them."

"Frodo's fate, is no longer in our hands.' Aragorn said.

"Then it has all been in vain." Gimli said heavily. "The Fellowship has failed."

"Not while we hold true to each other. We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death. Not while we hold true to each other." Aragorn said, his hands resting on our shoulders, drawing me, Gimli and Legolas into a circle with him.

He spun away from us, slotting a curved knife into its sheath. "Leave all that can be spared behind. We travel light." He turned back to face us, and the guise of Strider seemed to fall away from him and we could see Elessar before us. "Let us hunt some orc!" he declared, before he turned and began to run. Legolas and Gimli exchanged glances with me and each other, before Gimli gave wordless cry of pleasure, and followed him. Legolas grinned, almost viciously, before following.

I grabbed my pack (specially lightened for this), before following, hoping that I would be able to keep up with the three. I knew the journey that awaited us in Rohan.