Part 10: Chapter 1
The company kept rowing their boats on the Anduin until they passed the Angornas, which were great statues of the old kings of Gondor. The Orcs that they had sensed seemed to grow stronger or at least to the Senshi.
"We cannot linger here Aragorn." Ami said quietly to the ranger. They had stopped by some ruins and were making camp. Merry, Pippin and Gimli were sitting down, smoking their pipes. Aragorn, Rei, Ami, Lita and Legolas were discussing what they were to do next. Serena, Hotaru and Frodo were looking for firewood. Boromir was supposedly scouting the area for signs of danger with them.
"How would you know, Senshi of Ice?" Aragorn asked with eyes weary yet intense.
"It's not knowing Ranger. It's feeling. There's a darkness coming over the lands. No where is safe until we are with others who will be able to help us." Rei argued.
"There's no one to help us." Aragorn replied. There was silence.
"Ye mean to say tha' we migh' be in trouble?" Pippin asked, confusion in his countenance.
"Aye. The journey is going to be tougher Master Hobbit." Gimli replied grimy.
"What's going to happen now?" piped in Merry.
"Don't trouble yourselves." Lita replied, wearily sitting down. "We're all friends here. Whatever trouble we run into, we'll conquer."
"Trouble! Alas, that's just saying it lightly!" Gimli exclaimed. "Crossing the river is one thing, the paths of Emyn Muil is another! Getting to Mordor won't be an easy task."
"Emyn Muil?" Ami asked curious.
"Yes, paths of rocks and mists that could confuse any weary traveller into the wrong road." Aragorn replied.
"Serena should be back by now." Legolas said quietly. He had been listening to the conversation and yet observing the company. Aragorn looked at him immediately. Rei sharply.
"What do you mean?" she snapped.
"She and the Dragonfly should have returned from gathering the firewood. They would be back with as many pieces of wood by now. Frodo with them! Boromir as well." Replied the elf.
Silence.
"We better get back to camp Serena." Hotaru said.
"Yes."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Wait, where's my uncle?" Serena asked. She looked around for the tiny hobbit.
"He must have wandered off." Hotaru said. Serena cursed mentally. This was not going to be good.
"Boromir!" Serena grinned when she saw the captain from Gondor. "Goodness, what happened?"
The man looked pale. He looked at Serena and began sobbing. The girls looked at each other with worry. The older came towards him and embraced the man in what was a comforting gesture. Boromir clung on to Serena sobbing.
"I am sorry my Lady. I've betrayed you all!" He cried. Serena looked confused. Boromir held her within arms length and looked into her eyes. "I tried to take it from Frodo! I- could not help it!"
Hotaru gasped and dropped the wood. Serena felt anger within her. That thing had to be destroyed!
"It's all right. Let's..." she stopped speaking. In the distance far from where they stood, Orcs had come. With them were other creatures. They were creatures that were big, strong, evil and feral.
"Serena, Boromir we must find Frodo! We're not safe!" Hotaru said quietly. Boromir had calmed down enough to see the fuss. His eyes turned to a metallic blue.
"They will die." He said. "If I must regain my honour I will fight to defend he to whom I swore myself to defending."
He unsheathed his sword and took a fighting stance. Both girls took out their weapons. The battle had begun.
Frodo found himself facing Aragorn after kicking Boromir in the shins to get away. He had put on the ring and fled. He had taken off the ring and Aragorn faced him with confusion written in his eyes.
"Frodo?"
"You will take it!" Frodo yelled and tried to flee. Aragorn didn't know what to say. After Legolas parted the information upon the company of the strangeness that the girls, Boromir and Frodo had not returned, the company split up looking for them. He had found Frodo after looking up and seeing the ruins.
"What do you mean Frodo?"
"The ring! You will take it!"
"How could I? I have entrusted my life in keeping yours safe? Do you not believe my word?"
Frodo didn't reply. He was hurting from the burden. He saw the power, sincerity and strength within Aragorn's eyes. He had not noticed that he had been clinging on to the ring. He loosened his grip and felt a tingling in his mind.
What if I gave him the ring? Yet, will he, like Boromir kill me if I don't? Frodo thought in his mind. The ideas being tainted by the ring.
"Would you take the ring?" he asked finally, quietly as he held out his hand. Aragorn was shocked and fought with the power that the ring was pulling to him. A minute seemed like hours and the tension in the air was thick. Slowly, finally.
"It is yours to bear." Aragorn closed his hand over Frodo's, not touching the ring and placing them over the hobbit's heart. He saw the resolution in the hobbit's eyes.
"I would have followed you to the very lands of Mordor if I could." He added quietly. He jumped back when he saw blue light from Sting, the elven dagger given to Frodo by Bilbo. The light warned that Orcs or danger had come near. Aragorn withdrew his own sword. An unspoken agreement between them passed and Frodo left for the boats.