A/N: Ok, I know I promised to try and make the updates more regualar. But I just can't seem to do that… so all I'm going to say about the next update is that it'll be sometime after my surgery, March 17th. And that's all I'm promising!
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The next morning, Sinn and Shenaux were abnormally quiet and everyone took notice of that and they were all a little uneasy about it. If they were quiet like this, something was going to happen, something bad. Even the girls knew that something was going to happen, but they could remember what. Lady Galadriel's gift to them was knowledge and that knowledge would come when they needed it most, but at the moment, nothing was being remembered. So, for that day, the two of them tried to remember what they were forgetting.
Frodo peering forward saw in the distance two great rocks approaching: like great pinnacles or pillars of stone they seemed. Tall and sheer and ominous they stood upon either side of the stream. A narrow gap appeared between them, and the River swept the boats towards it.
"Behold the Argonath, the Pillars of the Kings!" cried Aragorn. "We shall pass them soon. Keep the boats in line, and as far apart as you can! Hold the middle of the stream!"
As Frodo was borne towards them the great pillars rose like towers to meet him. Giants they seemed to him, vast grey figures silent but threatening. Then he saw that they were indeed shaped and fashioned: the craft and power of old had wrought them, and still they preserved through the suns and rains of forgotten years the mighty likenesses in which they had been hewn. Upon great pedestals founded in the deep waters stood two great kings of stone: still with blurred eyes and crannied brows they frowned upon the North. The left hand of each was raised palm outwards in gesture of warning; in each right hand there was an axe; upon each head there was a crumbling helm and crown. (Quoted I; pg 515 – 516)
After passing the Argonath, the travellers brought their boats to shore to make ready for night. Frodo looked worried as he was thinking of what was to come. He could also feel the pull of the Ring worse now that he was closer to Mordor than he did when he was in Lórien. Boromir was having an internal battle. His eyes kept travelling back to Frodo every now and then. He could feel the call of the Ring, and it wasn't pleasant. Aragorn and the others began preparing for the night. Merry went in search of wood and Pippin sat down next to the fire Gimli was preparing. Legolas began to scan the area around them, an uneasy feeling creeping upon him. After Sam had got his and Frodo's belongings out of the boat, he lay down and rested for a bit. Sinn and Shenaux watched the happenings. Nobody noticed when Frodo slipped away, except for Boromir whom was following, in the pretence of getting firewood. Aragorn was unpacking his boat.
"We cross the lake at nightfall." Aragorn announces as he places the last of the items on the ground. "Hide the boats and continue on foot. We approach Mordor from the North."
"Oh yes?" Gimli asks as Pippin looked at him curiously. "Just a simple matter of finding our way through Emyn Muil… an impassable labyrinth of razor sharp rocks. And after that it gets even better."
Pippin looks a little green as he listens to Gimli ramble on. Pippin stopped chewing the food he was currently eating. Sinn and Shenaux shook their heads.
"Festering, stinking marshlands as far as the eye can see." Gimli continued, not noticing the poor small, frightened Hobbit that stared up at him.
"That is our road." Aragorn told him. "I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength Master Dwarf."
Gimli begins to sputter. "Recover my…" he grumbles under his breath at the insult.
Legolas took this moment to walk over to Aragorn. "We should leave now." He told him, his eyes still wandering over the forest around them.
"No." Aragorn told him. "Orcs patrol the eastern shore. We must wait for the cover of darkness."
Legolas looks back at the trees after taking a glance at his friend. "It is not the eastern shore that worries me." He muttered. "A shadow and a threat has been growing in my mind. Something draws near, I can feel it."
Sinn and Shenaux share a look of horror. The something that had evaded them has now returned. They remember what is to happen and tears well up in their eyes. Before either of them could speak up and say something, Merry comes back with the firewood. He looked around with a frown. Gimli was still grumbling about what Aragorn had said.
"Recover my strength? Pay no heed to that young Hobbit." The Dwarf said to Pippin.
"Where's Frodo?" Merry asked as he looks about.
Aragorn and Legolas stop their private conversation they were having in Elvish and he looked around. His eyes fell on the shield of Boromir's and it dawned on him. Frodo was in trouble. The call was too strong for Boromir.
"Aragorn, go after him!" Shenaux said desperately. "Hurry. They are both in trouble."
Sinn nodded her head. "Hurry."
Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli grab their weapons and run into the woods leaving the three Hobbits and the two women. Legolas turned back to the small group of five.
"Please stay here where it's safe." He told the group, but his eyes not leaving Sinn's face.
"No where's safe anymore Legolas." Sinn told him and Shenaux nodded her agreement. "Go."
With a nod, he was off running again.
"We have to help Frodo!" Sam exclaimed as he jumped up and grabbed his sword. Before anyone could say 'stop' Sam was running into the forest. Merry and Pippin followed suit.
"Damnit!" Shenaux cursed as she grabbed her weapons. "Why can't they listen!?" she asked as both her and Sinn ran into the forest following the Hobbits.
"Look who's talking." Sinn muttered.
"I always enjoyed that movie." Shenaux mused to herself, making her best friend groan and stop suddenly.
"Sinn?" Shenaux questioned. "What's … oh." She said once she realised something. "Frodo's going to be going back to shore. We should go back."
Nodding, the two women turned and run back to the shore where they left their belongings. As they arrived, they noticed Frodo standing near the water and looking at the other shore. His hand was holding the Ring.
"Frodo?" Shenaux said softly, making the Hobbit flinch away from them as he clutched the Ring. "Don't worry Frodo. We don't want the Ring." She assured him.
"We're also not going to stop you." Sinn added. "It's not our place to say what you will and will not do. We know what you're going to do, and we know that you're frightened of what is to come."
"You know a lot don't you?" Frodo asked so softly, the two women had to strain their ears to hear him speak.
"No, not really." Shenaux shrugged. "As you should know."
He gave them a small smile. Then he sobered. "I don't know if I can do this. I don't know if I am strong enough to."
Sinn and Shenaux sank down to their knees in front of him so that they were eye level with him. "You're not alone Frodo. We can tell you that much. Our thoughts are with you. They always will be. You know everyone loves you." Shenaux explained.
Sinn took the chain that held the ring Ransom gave her and put it in Frodo's left hand. "If you ever need reassurance, look at my ring. You can draw what strength you need from it by knowing that you have great friends that care deeply for you. Everyone is cheering for you Frodo."
"But what if I fail? What if I can't do it?"
"As long as you tried you're best, nobody will blame you Frodo." Shenaux told him. "Try with all of your might. We all believe in you."
"Thank you." He whispered as he hugged first Shenaux then Sinn.
"A favor Frodo." Sinn said. "Once you reach Mount Doom, and after you destroy the One Ring, would you throw in my ring? I need to put the past behind me, and I can't do that with the ring lying about."
"I'll try Sinn."
Smiling at him, the two women stood. "All right." Shenaux said as she took a deep breath. "We'll let you get going." In the distance they heard Boromir's horn sound.
"We have to go help the others." Sinn told him sadly. "Safe journey Frodo."
"Safe journey Sinn, Shenaux."
With a nod to Frodo, the two women turned and ran back into the forest and made their way to where the sound led them. As they ran, they heard the horn sound a few more times and a lot of fighting. When they finally entered a clearing they were out of breath and completely frightened as to what they would find. Sinn and Shenaux stopped dead and their face paled as they beheld the sight before them. Boromir, lying lifeless on the ground, and Aragorn kneeling before him, leaning down and kissing his forehead.
Sinn turned to leave, not wanting to break down sobbing, and ran into a warm chest. She looked up and saw Legolas looking down at her in sympathy and sadness. She wrapped her arms around his waist and cried into his chest. Instinctively, Legolas wrapped his arms tightly around her and held her as she cried. He rocked her back and forth and whispered soothing Elvish words in her ear.
Shenaux stared at Boromir's body in complete shock. She knew that he was going to die. She knew how it happened, but it didn't make it any better. She started to shake her head at the sight. For some reason, seeing it made her feel horrible. Then she realised that she never really thought it would happen. She was hoping that it wouldn't. Taking a shaky breath, Shenaux blinked a few times, trying to push the tears back, but to no avail. A single crystalline tear fell from her eye just as Aragorn stood and turned. He witnessed the tear. He made his way over to her and hugged her. That was the last straw. Her control broke and she cried on his shoulder, not really knowing what to do.
The two women cried out their grief for the things that had happened and the things yet to come. When they had finally shed their last tear, Aragorn looked at the remaining Fellowship.
"What is to be done now?" Shenaux questioned weakly.
"First we must tend to the fallen," said Legolas. "We cannot leave him lying like carrion among these foul Orcs."
"But we must be swift," said Gimli. "He would not wish us to linger. We must follow the Orcs, if there is hope that any of our Company are living prisoners." (Quoted book II, pg. 7)
"And we are to do what?" Sinn questioned with a sniff. "We cannot leave the Hobbits in the hands of the Uruk-hai."
"She's right, we have to find the Hobbits quickly." Shenaux agreed as she rooted through her pockets looking for something to wipe her eyes and nose.
Gimli quietly handed both of the women a clean hankie respectively. Both women smiled their thanks as they took the surprisingly white clothes from the dirty dwarf.
"Then let us do first what we must do," said Legolas. "We have not the time or the tools to bury or comrade fitly, or to raise a mound over him. A cairn we might build."
"The labour would be hard and long: there are no stones that we could use nearer than the water-side," said Gimli.
"Then let us lay him in a boat with his weapons, and the weapons of his vanquished foes," said Aragorn. "We will send him to the Falls of Rauros and give him to Anduin. The River of Gondor will take care at least that no evil creature dishonours his bones." (Quoted book II, pg. 7-8)
With a nod, the small group searched the dead Orcs, gathering their swords and cloven helms and shields into a heap. During the searching, Aragorn found the weapons of Merry and Pippin and Legolas announced that he is going to collect arrows as they searched because his quiver was empty.
Once this task was completed, Legolas and Gimli bundled the weapons and helms up in something they had found on the ground, some article of clothing, and carried them back to the boats while Aragorn, Shenaux and Sinn carried Boromir's body back. Sinn had a hold of his one leg and Shenaux had a hold on his other while Aragorn was holding Boromir from underneath his arms. If the situation weren't so grievous, it would have made a very funny situation.
"He weighs a tonne." Sinn groaned under the weight of the one side of her fallen companion.
"What did you expect Sinn?" Shenaux asked as she tried to get a better grip on his leg. "He's a warrior and one made of muscle. Of course he's going to be heavy."
When they had finally made it back to the campsite, both women were out of breath and breathing heavily. Legolas and Gimli had already got a boat set up for Boromir.
Now they laid Boromir in the middle of the boat that was to bear him away. The grey hood and Elven cloak they had folded and placed beneath his head. They combed his long dark hair and arrayed it upon his shoulders. The golden belt of Lórien gleamed about his waist. His helm they set beside him, and across his lap they laid the cloven horn and the hilts and shards of his sword; beneath his feet they put the swords of his enemies. (Quoted book II, pg. 10)
The three warriors pushed the boat that carried their friend into the river and waited for the current to take hold of the small boat.
"He looks as if he is just sleeping." Shenaux whispered brokenly.
"He looks peaceful. I hope he is happy where ever he is." Sinn said as she linked her arm through her friend's arm. "Ransom, look after our dear friend." She whispered into the wind.
"We best leave the three to grieve in their own way. I don't think they would enjoy having us witness their goodbyes to our dear friend." Shenaux said as she began to steer Sinn away from the three men.
Sinn nodded but she looked over her shoulder to watch Legolas as Aragorn began to speak. She only heard his first sentence before she was pulled from hearing distance.
"They will look for him from the White Tower," he said, "but he will not return from mountain or from sea."
The two women dumped out their packs and began rooting through it, taking only what they needed for the journey ahead of them. Gizmo and Oxana came up to them.
Are you two all right? The small owl asked as she fluttered to Shenaux' shoulder. Is there anything we could do?
"There's nothing you can do, unless you know how to bring people back from the dead." Shenaux said sadly. "Boromir is dead and there was nothing we could have done about it!"
Exactly, some things can't be changed, others can. Boromir knew the risks when he came on this journey. There is always the risk of someone dying. Gizmo told them both. They all knew them, and they all still came along.
At the last part, Sinn's eyes travelled to Legolas, who was looking over at them. Obviously he was hearing the one-sided conversation.
"I don't want him to die." Sinn said quietly as she could when she turned back to her friends. "He can't die. I won't allow it!"
"Why Sinn?" Shenaux asked softly. "Why is it so important that he not die? Why him and not the others? What makes him so special?"
"Because…" she trailed off and she looked at her friends with wide eyes as realisation struck. She blinked owlishly at them. "Because I love him." She whispered so softly that even Giz had to strain to hear her.
Before anyone could say another word, the three warriors joined them.
Legolas looked across the water and exclaimed in surprise, "Hurry Frodo and Sam has reached the eastern shore!" He dashed to the last remaining boat and was about to push it in when he looked back at Aragorn, whom was looking across the water to where Frodo and Sam were making their way into the woods. "You mean not to follow them"
"Frodo's fate is no longer in our hands." Aragorn told him.
Legolas took a few steps in Aragorn's direction before looking back to the other shore. Sinn and Shenaux remained silent during the exchange.
"Then it has all been in vain." Gimli said as he came to stand by the Elf and Man. "The Fellowship has failed."
Aragorn clasped their shoulders and looked at them both. "Not if we hold true to each other." He said looking at Gimli. He looked at Legolas. "We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death. Not while we have strength left. Leave all that can be spared behind." He walked away to grab his dagger and sheaths it. "We travel light. Let us hunt some Orc." He ran into the forest, passing two stunned and confused women.
Gimli looked up at Legolas, glaring and Legolas looked down at Gimli glaring. That is until Gimli laughs and Legolas smirks. With a shout from Gimli, the dwarf follows Aragorn with Legolas quickly running behind him. Both Dwarf and Elf passed the two women without a word.
"Was it just me, or did they totally ignore us?" Sinn questioned as she watched the three forms disappear into the dense wood.
"They totally ignored us!" Shenaux said with indignation. "How rude!"
"I wonder if they realised yet that we are no longer with them." Sinn mused as she and Shenaux slowly began to walk in the direction the three had went.
"Not to mention that we have all the food and water." Shenaux muttered.
Giz and Oxana chuckled. They knew that Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas had just irked the two women… there is going to be hell to pay once the two women actually catch up to the three. This is going to be an interesting time.
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A/N: Oh, and I'm made a LiveJournal to update you on upcoming chapters and update status so if you wanna check it out it's here at www(dot)livejournal(dot)com(slash)users(slash)shenaux but be warned I'm still learning how to use it so I'll probable make mistakes for a little bit there too. So if anyone know any little tricks to it I'm open to opinions to make it look good.