DISCLAIMER: I own nothing!!!! :: sobs hysterically:: AND to top it all off, this is the last chapter!!!!!!
A/N: Finally, the last chapter!!! YAY!!!!!!! (Sorry if it sounds a little choppy, I stayed up until 1:00 last night trying to finish it for all of you! So don't hate me!!!!)
Well then, I hope you guys all had fun with this story! I know I did, and I can't wait to see you all again in TTT: The Music of the Night!!
This chapter is also dedicated to my cousin, without whom, I would have probably never continued to write this fic!
(you should all thank her!!)
Enjoy!!
And so for the final chapter . . .
:: Many Partings::
Kaye's PoV
The river swept us henceforth southwards towards the sea and the Falls of Rauros. Outside of Lorien, the sky was gray and the scent of a storm hung in the air. Other than the splashing water against the shore, Anduin flowed quietly and swiftly.
Our three little boats were dwarfed to the Great River, but together we paddled along one another.
At one pointed when we sailed in a small group, we all sat in an eerie hush. Until, that is, Legolas turned to me and asked, "Would you mind breaking this silence, Kaye?" he smiled and winked discretely.
I blushed furiously, "Do you wish for me to sing?"
Overhearing our conversation, Sam turned to us and nodded vigorously, "Will you, Miss Kaye? It's been awhile since I've heard any songs from home!"
Pippin also nodded, "Would you? It would be nice to take our minds off of things for at least a moment."
I glanced around to the faces of the others, but they did not seem to protest.
Taking a deep breath, I searched through my mind to remember any song from the Shire. After a moment, I smiled sadly and gave a sigh:
'Upon the hearth and fire red,
Beneath there is a bed;
But not yet weary are our feet,
Still round the corner we may meet
A sudden tree or standing stone
That none have seen but we alone
-:-
'Tree and flower and leaf and grass,
Let the pass! Let them pass!
Hill and water under sky
Pass them by! Pass them by!
-:-
'Still round the corner we may wait
A new road or a secret gate,
And though we pass them by today,
Tomorrow we may come this way
And take the hidden paths that run
Towards the moon or to the sun.
-:-
'Apple, thorn and nut and sloe,
Let them go! Let them go!
Sand and stone and pool and dell,
Fare you well! Fare you well!
-:-
'Home is behind, the world ahead
And there are many paths to tread
Through shadows to the edge of night,
Until the stars are all alight.
Then world behind and home ahead,
We'll wander back to home and bed.
-:-
'Mist and twilight, cloud and shade,
All shall fade! All shall fade . . .'
My voice died away along the shoreline as the last echo faded against the trees. My companions remained silent for the longest time. I bowed my head and felt embarrassment course through me from bringing up such a painful subject as home.
"I'm sorry," I murmured sadly.
Aragorn quietly placed his paddle on his lap and shook his head, "Nay, do not apologize; we should all probably try to remember our homes at times like these . . . what we should be fighting for . . ."
Sam nodded, "Besides, it is my fault; I asked you to sing a song from home," he smiled weakly, "Aragorn is right, though—about remembering the Shire and all . . . it was a lovely song, Miss Kaye, and I'm thankful that you sang it to us."
I smiled meekly, "Thank you Sam."
Boromir raised his face towards the sky and blinked at the sunlight peeking through the clouds, "It's noon . . . we should be getting closer to the Falls of Rauros . . ."
The ranger nodded and took up his oar once more, "Aye, soon we will set up camp for the night."
So the company took up their paddles and resided back into silence.
Before we had gotten too far, Gimli turned to face me and gave me a gruff smile, "Thank you, Kaye, it was truly a wonderful tune . . ." he leaned a little closer and whispered in my ear, "That confounded elf is lucky to have someone like you."
I blushed and glanced up at Legolas; sure that he had heard. But if he had he made no sign . . . only, that is, a faint shade of pink burning at the tips of his ears. I smiled and kept my eyes low as I took up my oar and plunged it into the water; stirring up a small whirlpool.
Several hours passed before Aragorn cried out as two stone forms rose high into the heavens.
"Behold the Argonath, the pillars of Kings!" the Dunadain murmured and kept his eyes upon the great statues of the rulers of old. Both pairs of eyes were blurred from time and crannied brows frowned upon the North. The left hand of each was raised palm outwards; in gesture of warning; in their right there was an axe and upon their mantles they wore crumbling helms and crowns.
Awe filled within us as we passed through the Gates. Beyond, the Falls of Rauros thundered with a mighty power. We were now at the center of the long oval lake, Nen Hithoel and on either side of us rose up steep hills that shone with the midday's golden sunlight.
Two peaks were molded into the earth; on the left, Amon Lhaw, and on the right, Amon Hen.
Aragorn ordered the boats towards the shoreline on the West side. The vessels groaned along the gravel as we made contact with the solid earth.
Gratefully, the hobbits were the first to leave the boats and plant their feet on the ground.
We dragged the boats onto shore and lit a small fire. We lay our cloaks and bags along the ground and stretched our weary legs.
Sam huddled underneath a small boulder with all his bags around him, "Hobbits were not meant for water," he mumbled, "I do not like boats at all . . . not at all . . ."
I smiled sadly and shed my cloak onto the ground. The sun's rays were enough to warm me, even when occasional clouds would block it out. I then found myself moving towards the bank of the river and staring across towards the Eastern shore.
A shiver ran down my spine. I could sense it here . . . I could sense the black pits of Mordor even from many leagues away.
Small shapes darted along the trees across from us. And even over the roaring of the falls, I could still hear their clanking armor.
Sighing, I turned back towards my companions, only to find Legolas standing alone on the border of the woods; his keen eyes searching through the trees. Carefully, I made my way towards him and quietly stood beside the elf.
"Legolas?"
"We should not linger here," he said darkly.
"Orcs patrol the eastern shore," Aragorn said as he approached, "We shall wait for the cover of darkness."
"It is not the eastern shore that worries me, Elessar," the elf said rather sternly and turned to his companion, "But a shadow looms over these woods . . . I do not like the feel of it . . ."
I shivered suddenly. I felt it also . . . but what it was, I did not know. I longed to plead the ranger otherwise . . . but maybe it was nothing . . . maybe waiting for nightfall was best . . .
I sighed and shook my head dismissing the thought. We should leave, though . . . it didn't feel safe here . . .
But deciding to get as much rest as I could, I started to lie among the shady trees—but then I realized something was wrong; that something was missing—
". . . And after that! It gets even better! Filthy stinking marshes as far as the eye can see!" Gimli told the others gruffly and continued on to tell of the horrors of the lands of Mordor.
. . . I wasn't listening . . . I was staring at my companion's empty bed.
Frodo was gone . . .
And so was Boromir . . .
Dread filled my heart. Oh gods . . . not again . . . he wouldn't!! I felt my heart pound fearfully as I stood in silent shock.
Memories raced back to me from that fateful night in Rivendell so many months ago . . . the memories that haunted my dreams ever still . . .
But he didn't seem to hear me, as if he were in a daze, "If I cannot bring back the One . . . Narulin will have to do . . ."
"Please . . ." tears came to my eyes and I shook my head, "Please don't . . ."
"With Narulin . . . Gondor might defeat Sauron once and for all . . ."
"Please, Boromir . . ." I said tearfully as I saw the final point of the sword glittering in the moonlight. Oh, gods, he was going to do it . . . whatever was wrong with him . . . he was going to do it!
I turned my head away, "Please don't . . ."
That was it, wasn't it? The feeling in the air . . . the shadow that loomed over the woods . . . it was Him . . .
He was back.
Suddenly, I broke through the trees and into the woods in a desperate hastening. Whether my companions noticed my leave, I did not know . . . I only knew that I had to keep running; that I had to find Frodo. Cold sweat perspired off my brow as I felt my horror pulse within my veins.
"Fight it, Boromir," I whispered under my ragged breath.
Stone statures and pillars formed forgotten rubble around me. I trudged up the hills of Amon Hen as fast as I could. I could hear faint voices ahead and my heart raced faster.
I could see them now; the tall, burly warrior standing next to the tiny hobbit. Fear flashed before Frodo's eyes as he stared at the man before him.
"Frodo!"
The hobbit turned as I approached. Boromir switched his attention to me also. His expression was friendly enough, but a gleam in his eyes told me otherwise.
I tried to catch my breath, "What's going on?"
Frodo did not answer, but his large blue eyes flashed quickly towards Boromir. I turned to the warrior, but he did not speak either. I felt a cold tension between the two as well as a dark presence among them . . . maybe it was nothing?
But I would not take any chances.
I moved towards the hobbit, "You worried me nearly to death, Frodo!" I tried to sound confident and reassuring even as I kept my attention on the man behind me, "But come, we will surely be missed . . ." I gently grasped his shoulder and began to lead him back down the slope.
But suddenly, a firm hand latched onto my arm. I turned and came to face Boromir; his eyes blazing angrily and a fearful malice flashed before them. It was then I truly saw the same evil inside that possessed him so long ago. It was stronger this time, and it felt as though it was the Dark Lord's hand on my arm.
This, however, was not the Boromir I knew . . .
My eyes narrowed and I returned his hard glare, "Fight it Boromir," I commanded and waited for some sign of change in him, but there was none.
"It is folly, Kaye . . . do you not see that a simple ring like Narulin will never come to subdue the One? You and all the others will perish under its power . . ."
I did not answer, but against my will, I began to tremble as his grip tightened. I could feel Frodo's fear as it seemed to emit from him like flames from a fire . . . but I would not let the Dark Lord take him!
"You are not yourself, Boromir," I muttered, "Fight it, dammit; you're stronger than this . . ." I let my voice soften, "Your will is mightier than His trickery . . . will you not fight back?"
For a brief second, I thought I saw a glow of humanity within him, but it was soon gone.
With an urge of strength, I ripped my arms away and hid Frodo behind me. The warrior advanced, but we backed away in the same motion.
"Frodo . . ." I whispered to him behind me, "Frodo, listen to me . . . I want you to run back to the Fellowship as soon as you can . . ."
"What about you?" he asked and watched the warrior warily.
I tried to force a reassuring smile, "This has happened before, Frodo, let me handle it; but you must go to the Fellowship . . . please, do this for me . . ."
The hobbit only looked up at me sadly. I could see the pain and suffering in his eyes and I longed to embrace him and make all the pain go away. He did not make any gesture towards me, but I saw the understanding within him.
Boromir stalked us dangerously, "The Ring should be mine!" he roared.
Immediately, I pushed Frodo away as the warrior lunged for us. He missed the hobbit, but forced me to the ground painfully. Leaves fluttered around me, but I heard Boromir growl angrily.
The warrior shoved me roughly into the earth and rapidly started to stumble towards the hobbit. I cleared my head and rolled onto my stomach just as Boromir started to regain his footing.
I quickly grasped onto his ankle and sent him crashing to the ground. Frodo still stood rigid with shock; he still had not made any move to leave.
"Run, Frodo!" I cried as I struggled to keep the man down, "Boromir is not himself!"
The hobbit only stood there. Gods, what was his problem with listening to people when they told him to run?
"Wh-what about you—?!"
"Just go!" I yelled.
Boromir not tried to get up again, but I dragged him down. Frodo began to back away into the woods as the warrior whipped around and tried to grasp onto my collar.
But when he noticed the hobbit leaving, he shoved me to the ground.
"Give me the Ring!" he thundered and whirled on Frodo.
The hobbit's face fell with dread as he turned and sprinted off. But Boromir was too quick for him and latched onto his cloak. Frodo tripped and the warrior immediately pounced on him; trying to wrestle away the Ring.
"Boromir!" I cried and leapt to my feet, "Boromir, stop it—!"
But my voice died away as a familiar—but unwanted—rush of pain pounded through my veins. My vision blurred and I felt my lungs constrict painfully as a wave of darkness swept over my heard.
I heard Boromir curse furiously—
Frodo was gone . . .
He had put on the Ring.
I fell to my knees as my strength left me. I gasped for breath and clutched a pile of leaves tightly in my fist until my knuckles turned white. A raging fire of agony licked at my blood and my heart.
Firm hands gripped my shoulders and tears filled my eyes; tears of both pain and sorrow as I saw the blurred image of Boromir before me. Sauron had taken him; tainted his heart for lust of the Ring . . . the warrior was gone from all reasoning.
My body shook from both trembling and the man rocking me back and forth.
"Kaye!"
I blinked, but the pain still lingered . . .
But . . .
But there had been concern in his voice . . . had the Dark Lord's presence finally left him for good? Was he back to his normal self?
"Kaye what's wrong?!"
I heard it again . . . only this time, I sensed as though the warrior was close to tears.
A shiver raced through my spin and I felt my blood run cold.
"Boromir . . ." I stammered between breaths, "Boromir . . . where's . . . Frodo?"
I saw the man shake his head and a tear fell on my arm. As if breaking the spell—the pain ceased and I regained control over my body. Somewhere, Frodo had taken off the Ring. I blinked back the pain remaining and stared sadly at the warrior before me . . .
"Boromir . . ."
"I should have never come," he muttered, "It happened back in Rivendell . . . I should have known that it would happen again—!"
I shook my head, "Nay, Boromir . . . tis not your fault of such comings . . ." I smiled halfheartedly, "You were strong enough to fight back! Your heart was in the right place the entire time!"
He rocked his head back and forth, "I nearly did it again, Kaye . . . With these hands of mine . . . I-I would have probably killed both you and Frodo . . ."
The man took a shuddering breath as tears streamed down his face. He did not say anymore as he continued to weep. Pity overcame me and I gently wrapped my arms around his neck in comfort. His body shook, but I tried to calm him as much as I could . . .
My eyes also began to fill with tears and I looked to him for strength.
I sniffed sadly . . . but suddenly I caught a whiff of a foul scent in the air.
Alarmed, I stood quickly and looked around. Boromir noticed my panic and stood also, even if tears were still flowing.
"What is it?"
I frowned and made my way closer to the smell . . . I felt my heart stop briefly as I recognized the foul stench. Quickly, I turned to the man and grasped his arm gently.
Fear raced through me, and the warrior obviously knew it.
"Hurry, Boromir!" I cried as I sprinted off, "The Uruk-hai are near!!"
-----------
The warrior had finally regained his senses and his long strides quickly overtook mine. From behind, I shouted the general direction of the scent.
"They're closer now Boromir!" I yelled as I stumbled over the hillside. And indeed it was; their stench was so strong it was beginning to make me dizzy. As well as the fact that their Black Speech chants began to ring through the trees.
As we trudged up a final hill, I stumbled slightly and slid further down then intended. When I shook my head and cleared my mind, I gasped as I looked up.
Below, what seemed like hundreds of Uruk-hai thundered along the forest floor. Their armor clanked and their weapons clashed together.
They seemed to have begun to surround something . . .
My heart plummeted to the pit of my stomach when I caught sight of the familiar pair of blonde-haired hobbits standing helplessly in-between the line of orcs.
They weren't moving . . . I could almost feel their fear enveloping them.
Fools!! I cursed inwardly.
I couldn't hold myself back, though; I had to help them and their foolish tactics.
Blindly, I stumbled down the hillside towards the two hobbits as Boromir cried after me and his stomping footsteps followed. The Uruk-hai were closer now; I couldn't slow down.
"Merry! Pippin!"
The two hobbits turned as I ran to them. Even if the orcs were surrounding us, I didn't care as long as I was there to protect them.
"Kaye!!"
I whirled as Boromir cried out my name. I nearly cried out myself when I realized that an orc was nearly three feet away from me. On instinct, I raised my hand and against me will, Narulin's light shot through the air—
----------
"Look!!"
Legolas and Gimli turned as the Dunadain pointed to the sky. A glow as bright as day rose above the trees and the cry of screeching orcs could be heard shortly there-after.
"It's Kaye!" the elf cried in both alarm and wonder/
Aragorn plunged Anduril into the flesh of a nearby Uruk-hai he had been fighting and quickly raced through the horde that still flowed from an unknown source.
"Hurry—!" he roared but was quickly cut off by the blast of a single horn that caused the trees to shudder.
"The Horn of Gondor!"
----------
"Come on!" Boromir cried as he started to clear a path with his sword.
We obliged quickly and followed close behind. We did not get far, however as the swarm of orcs continued to pour in and we were surrounded once more.
Their ugly faces leered at us; knowing that we could never escape. I shivered as I stared at them; it haunted me that they had once been elves . . .
Boromir continued to slash his sword through the mass and the Uruk-hai bodies slowly began to pile up. The warrior's strength was fading, though . . . he wouldn't hold up much longer
I could take it no longer. With a speed that I did not know I had, I reached down to my boot and ripped out a single dagger; its point sharpened and the silver sheen glimmering off the sunlight.
Quickly, I took my place beside the warrior and held my weapon out warningly. Even if I had not intention to kill; it would come down to the moment where I knew I would have to anyway.
But suddenly, my eyes darted to the top of a single hill where a lone orc stood; his crudely-wrought bow notched and aimed directly at the warrior.
"Boromir!!"
My cry was not enough; however, to prevent the attack as a single arrow pierced his chest.
Time seemed to stand still as the blood silently poured from his wound. Boromir stared wide-eyed at the vast space in front of him. Pippin, Merry, and I could only stare in horror as the man began to fall to his knees.
He caught himself, and tried vainly to stand his ground as he fought off the orcs.
But another arrow came whizzing through the air, and this time, I saw tears in the man's eyes as he turned them on me.
"Boromir . . ." I murmured; tears forming also in my eyes, ". . . BOROMIR!"
It was finished, though.
A final arrow pierced through his flesh and the warrior fell to the ground. Blood now drenched his tunic and flowed freely over the ivory horn around his neck; staining the precious white. All three of us stood in shock as the man knelt helplessly . . .
Gently, I fell to the ground beside him as tears streamed down my face, "Boromir . . . don't die on me . . . gods, don't let him die . . . it wasn't his fault . . ." my voice grew to a whisper, ". . . it wasn't his fault . . ."
I was helpless to do anything as my friend slowly slipped away from life . . .
Suddenly, though, anger welled in the hobbits as they finally drew their own swords and charged into the pack of Uruk-hai. Their valiant attempt was not enough, however, when they were scooped up and hurled over orc shoulders like sacs.
I could do nothing . . . I could only watch as Boromir sat in his suffering.
"Boromir . . ." I murmured tearfully.
I started to reach towards him, but a strong hand grasped onto my waist and I was suddenly being carried away. I too was tossed over an Uruk-hai's shoulder and hauled apart from my companion.
It took me a moment before I realized what had happened and I screamed and tried vainly to throw myself out of its grip. Tears welled in my eyes as I stared back at the fallen warrior . . . and the bow-carrying orc standing before him with an arrow aimed at his skull.
"BOROMIR!!!"
All of a sudden, I felt a sharp pain race through my head and a trickle of blood pour from beneath my hair. I felt consciousness slip away and my vision blurred into darkness.
So I was born across the back of an orc as my dreams of shadow haunted me through the bowels of an endless night . . .
-----------
Frodo stared back towards shore and blinked several times. He could have sworn . . .
"Mr. Frodo?" Sam turned to him and paused in his paddling, "Mr. Frodo, what is it? Did you see something?"
The hobbit could only shake his head. For a moment, he could have sworn that he had seen Kaye along the shoreline . . . but then she was gone . . .
"Nothing, Sam . . . it was nothing . . ."
------------
A/N: wow that was really long, wasn't it?
Hehe, but I LOVE Pippin's Song (as I happen to call it) so I'll be referring back to that a few more times before the end : )
But I hope you all enjoyed and I can't wait to see you in TTT: The Music of the Night!!!
Ciao!!