Chapter 25
Rhian paced restlessly, stopping now and then to cast small stones in to the river. The strange sense of destiny that she had felt pulling her now seemed to be setting all her nerves on edge; change was coming, and soon, somehow, she would be thrust in to whatever it was that had brought her here.
Erin sat at Aria's side, clasping the hobbit girl's hand in hers. After a little while Rhian came to sit beside them, and one by the others did as well, starting with Sam, who clumsily patted Aria's and muttered that he 'was sure all would come out right, you'll see'. She gave him a wane smile and squeezed Erin's hand.
Soon the fellowship was gathered in a circle, talking quietly amongst themselves. Rhian questioned Aragorn about the ancient history of Gondor, and the remnants of its glory that they had seen as they passed down the river. But this did not last long; none of them could keep their minds from Frodo, and his decision. The unspoken questions hovered in their minds- What would he choose? Why was he hesitating?
"He is debating which course is the most desperate, I think," said Aragorn. "And well he may. It is now more hopeless than ever for the Company to go east, since we have been tracked by Gollum, and must fear that the secret of our journey is already betrayed. But Minas Tirith is no nearer to the Fire and the destruction of the Burden." There was a cold pause as they remembered the weight Frodo carried. "We may remain there for a while and make a brave stand," Aragorn went on; "but the Lord Denethor and all his men cannot hope to do what even Elrond said was beyond his power: either to keep the Burden secret, or to hold off the full might of the Enemy when he comes to take it. Which way would any of us choose in Frodo's place? I do not know. Now indeed we miss Gandalf most."
"Grievous is our loss," said Legolas. "Yet we must needs to make up our own minds without his aid. Why cannot we decide, and so help Frodo?" The elf's voice was questioning, as he thought of the small figure disappearing in to the trees. "Let us call him and then vote! I should vote for Minas Tirith."
"And so should I," said Gimli. "We, of course, were only sent to help the Bearer along the road, to go no futher than we wished; and none of us is under any oath or command to seek Mount Doom. Hard was my parting from Lothlorien." Rhian felt a ghost of a smile cross her lips at the thought of the dwarf's awe of the Lady Galadriel. "Yet I have come so far, and I say this: now we have reached the last choice, it is clear to me that I cannot leave Frodo. I would choose Minas Tirith, but if he does not, then I follow him."
"Well said," Rhian murmured, but even as she spoke her thoughts were drawn inward. She could feel the pull of her destiny, like a rope bound to her chest, tugging her this way and that as the path of the Fellowship was discussed. Soon, soon. She tensed against it, and looked up sharply. The others, intent in discussion around her, did not notice, but Erin touched her sister's arm. Rhian did not remember later what she said, but she slid back from the circle and stood, looking to the trees.
And saw Boromir, striding off in to the shadows. Without a thought, she followed after him.
The way up was steep, and Rhian was stiff from days in the boat. It didn't take long for her thighs to begin to ache as she zig-zagged in between the trees. Ahead of her Boromir was walking swiftly, and she found it difficult to keep sight of him. At last she paused, sagging against a tree. She thought she must be near the top, for the sound of Rauros- a mightly roaring mingled with a deep throbbing boom- seemed to be below her. She pushed herself and made to go on, but paused at the sound of voices.
"I was afraid for you, Frodo," said Boromir's voice, sounding some ways above her. "If Aragorn is right and Orcs are near, then none of us should wander alone, and you least of all: so much depends on you."
Something in his voice sounded...wrong to Rhian. She started again up the slope, but as she moved so did the wind, and some of their speach was lost to her. Brief snatches came down as she climbed upward; "Are you sure thyat you do not suffer needlessly?" Boromir asked. ... "I think I know already what counsel you would give," said Frodo. Rhian wished she could hear more clearly, when Boromir's voice was raised sharply. "Warning? Warning against what?" Rhian started, and her foot slipped. She snatched at a tree as her boots went out from under her, wincing as the rough bark scraped the palms of her hands. Her hold was precarious, and the branch not strong at all. It bent as she fought to find her footing again, and she braced herself to tumble backwards down the slope if it broke. But it held, barely, as she planted her feet and leaned forward to grasp at another farther ahead.
The sound of voices grew stronger, and as the wind shifted again she could hear Boromir clearly. His voice had grown louder, harsher; "We of Minas Tirith have been staunch through long years of trail. We do not desire the power of wizard-lors, only strength to defend ourselves, strength in a just cause. And behold! in our need chance brings to light the Ring of Power. It is a gift, I say; a gift to the foes of Mordor. It is mad not to use it, to use the power of the enemy against him. The fearless, the ruthless, these alone will achieve victory. What could not a warrior do in this hour, a great leader? What could not Aragorn do? Or if he refuses, why not Boromir? The Ring would give me power of Command. How I would drive the hosts of Mordor, and all men would flock to my banner!" He went on, his voice growing ever louder, more intense, describing great plans for glorious victories, as he became a mighty king.
Rhian was sick at heart as she at last broke through the trees and came to the open, grassy spot where the two stood. Boromir was unaware, lost to his surroundings as he spoke of weapons and alliances and musterings of men. Frodo too did not see or hear her, gazing with horror at the man before him. Suddenly Boromir stopped, turning and raising his arms. "And they tell us to throw it away!" he cried. "I-" He stopped as he saw Rhian, standing at the edge of the trees. Her ankle was twisted and painful, her mind reeling with what she had heard. And so she was to overwhelmed to move as Boromir strode to her, catching up on of her hands. His face was twisted with some emotion she had never seen before, his eyes alight. Frodo twisted around, staring at Rhian in surprise.
"You know, surely!" Boromir cried. "Is it not folly, to destroy such a gift? Is it not?" Rhian struggled to find her voice, but she could not seem to speak beneath his fiery gaze. He is mad, she thought wildly. But Boromir did not pause, but rounded on Frodo, still grasping her hand. "Will you not come to Minas Tirith?"
The hobbit edged back, glancing from Boromir to Rhian's stricken face. "Why are you so unfriendly?" Boromir said, his voice suddenly angry, his hand tightening on Rhian's wrist. "I am a true man, no thief. I need your Ring: but I give you my word that I do not desire to keep it! Will you not let me make a trial of my plan?" He turned his burning eyes on Rhian again, grasping her shoulder with the hand that did not hold hers and shaking her. "Persuade him!" he cried. "I will make Gondor great again! The greatest king of all the ages! We will rebuild my city, you and I! Together! Were you not sent here to be my queen? And with the Ring my kingdom will be more than worthy of you! Persuade him!"
"Boromir, you do not know what you are saying!" Rhian cried. She had only thought herself overwhelmed before. A queen! She stared at Boromir, shocked and pale, but he did not seem to hear her. He was turned again to Frodo.
"Lend me the Ring!"
"No! no!" said Frodo. "The Council laid upon me to bear it!"
"It is by our own folly that the Enemy will defeat us," cried Boromir. "How it angers me! Fool! Obstinate fool!" His hand on Rhian's wrist tightened until she cried out, but he took no notice. "It is not yours save by unhappy chance. It might have been mine. It should have been mine! Give it to me!" He took a step toward Frodo, jerking Rhian with him. She flinched as her weight came down on her hurt ankle, but Boromir still took no notice of her, as though he had forgotten he held her.
Frodo didn't answer, but moved away until the great stone in the center of the clearing was between them. "Come, come, my friend!" Boromir said softly. "Why not get rid of it? Why not be free of your doubt and fear? You can lay the blame on me, if you will. You can say that I was too strong and took it by force. For I am to strong for you, halfling!" he cried, and suddenly he cast Rhian's hand aside violently and leapt over the stone, grasping at Frodo- but even as Frodo dodged away, the man fell heavily to the ground with a cry as Rhian thudded in to his back, grasping blindly at his neck.
"Run, Frodo!" she screamed, as Boromir twisted in her grip. She was not strong enough to hold him and he shoved her off; but Frodo had already vanished. "Miserable trickster!" he shouted, and turned on Rhian with an angry growl, striking her hard across the face with the back of his hand. Her head snapped sideways, darkness exploding behind her eyes. She slumped to the ground and lay still.
Boromir remained kneeling over her, frozen, staring in horror at her still form. Suddenly he began to weep, and stretched out a trembling hand towards her, then drew it back. He dashed the tears away from his eyes, looking around him desperately. He moved to lift her, then thought better of it, fearing to hurt her more, or tumble the two of them down the slope. At last he bent to pull her cloak over her and went swiftly down the hill.
In the camp below, Boromir's presence had been missed, when Sam turned to address him and found him gone. "Now where's he got to?" said Sam. "He's been a bit queer lately, to my mind."
"Perhaps that is where Rhian went- to look for him," Erin suggested softly. Sam shrugged, going on with his thought, but soon their thoughts turned to the time, and Frodo.
"The hour is long passed," said Aragorn. "We must call for him." It was then that Boromir reappeared, looking grim and sad. "Where have you been, Boromir?" asked Aragorn. "Have you seen Frodo?"
"Have you seen Rhian?" added Erin.
"Yes," Boromir hesitated, "and yes, after a fashion. I found Frodo and spoke to him. I urged him to come to Minas Tirith. I grew angry and he left me. I think he must have put the ring on. The Lady Rhian came upon us. She...she lies above, on the hill."
"Lies? What do you mean?" Erin leapt to her feet, suddenly anxious. "Not-"
"No," Boromir said shortly. He looked about to speak again, but then closed his mouth. Aragorn looked at him hard.
"Is that all you have to say?" he asked, not too kindly.
"Yes," said Boromir. "I will say no more yet." And turned away.
"This is bad!" cried Sam, jumping up. "I don't know what this Man has been up to. Why should Mr. Frodo put the thing on? He didn't ought to have; and if he has, goodness knows what may have happened!"
"But he wouldn't keep it on," said Merry. "Not when he had escaped the unwelcome visitor, like Bilbo used to."
"But where did he go? Where is he?" cried Pippin. "He's been away ages now."
"And where is my sister?" Erin demanded, looking hard at Boromir now, her hand on the hilt of the slender knife Galadriel at given her in an unfamiliar gesture.
"She lies on the hill above! Are you not listening? She has been struck down, now go and tend her!" he cried, and put his head in his hands, sitting as if bowed with grief. Erin turned without a word and fled in to the trees, Aria at her heels. They cold hear her clear, high voice calling Frodo! Frodo! Rhian! It seemed to jerk the others out of their frozen state.
"We must try and find Frodo at once!" shouted Sam. "Come on!"
"Wait a moment!" cried Aragorn. "We must divide up into pairs, and arrange- here, hold on! Wait!"
It was no good. They took no notice of him. Sam had dashed off first, .and Merry and Pippin had followed, and were already disappearing westward into the trees by the shore, shouting Frodo! Frodo! Legolas and Gimli too were running. A sudden panic seemed to have fallen on the Company.
"We shall all be scattered and lost," groaned Aragorn. "Boromir! I do not know what part you have played in this mischief, but help now! Go after those two young hobbits, and guard them at the least, even if you cannot find Frodo. Come back to this spot, if you find him, or any traces of him. I shall return soon."
On the hill above, Erin broke from the trees and fell to the ground beside her sister. She was breathing evenly, but a dark bruise was spreading on her cheek, and she stirred with a faint groan of pain. Erin looked around desperately, unknowingly doing as Boromir has before. Her eyes fell on Aria as she came out in to the clearing, gasping for breath; the little hobbit girl had not been able to keep pace with Erin, but she had toiled up the hill nevertheless, frantic with worry.
"Aria!" Erin called. "Rhian is bruised, and unconcious, but I do not know if she is hurt elsewhere." She reached out and took Aria's hand. "I know you want to look for Frodo," she said softly, "but I must find Aragorn, and I do not want to leave her alone. Will you stay here? The others are looking for him."
Aria took a deep, painful breath, looking from the trees where her love was- somewhere- to the still form of the woman she had come to think of as her own sister. "I will stay," she whispered. "But please, go quickly!" Erin pressed her hand and leapt swiftly down the hill on the westward side, going towards the sound of Merry and Pippin's voices, hoping Aragorn would be with them.
As Erin fled down the hill, the knife she had thrust through her belt worked loose, and she was forced to stop and secure it. She did not know why, but without thinking she tucked it beneath her tunic, against her skin, and bound it in place. Soon she was far down the hill, and ahead she heard suddenly the blowing of Boromir's horn. Her skin prickled- surely that could not mean good. She slowed, trying to go cautiously, but her breathe was labored and her heart pounded in her ears. She broke suddenly and unexpectedly out of the trees, straight in to a battle.
Dead orcs lay oozing black blood out on to the ground. Merry and Pippin were struggling valiantly against more with their small swords. And Boromir was hewing at the orcs about him, even as a black-feathered arrow sprang from his side.
Erin cried out involuntarily, knowing even as she did it would bring their attention to her. Before her scream has stopped she snatched up a blade from a fallen orc, knowing it would no good to reach for her own hidden dagger, and thrust it into the chest of the orc that came to seize her. He slumped at her feet, the black blood spurting out and spattering over her tunic, her face. She made a small, choked sound, but another was before her, and another. She cut and stabbed blindly, barely registering that they seemed unwilling to attack her in earnest. She had felled a good number when two together caught her arms, and as she fought against them they struck her temple. As the world darkened, Erin saw Boromir fall back against a tree, his chest full of arrows.
Far away, on the hill, Rhian was returning to herself. She groaned, opening her eyes and trying to push herself up, only to fall back as pain exploded in her head.
"Rhian?"
At the sound of Aria's voice, she sat up again, and this time managed to stay up. "Aria," she murmured..."Aria- Frodo!" She tried to stand up and stumbled, falling against the stone. Aria leapt out, automatically holding out her hands to catch her. "Frodo...Boromir, he seemed to go mad, and Frodo..." She pushed away from the stone, finding her feet. Her head throbbed, and her heart beat seemed to pounding Now! Now! "Frodo, we must go after Frodo."
"They're looking for him," Aria said soothingly. "Erin went to find Strider, she was afraid you might be hurt more."
"No." Rhian shook her head, and then regretted it. "No, I'm fine. Boromir, Aria, he was so unlike himself! He was...terrifying. He tried to take the Ring. I stopped him and he struck me." She touched her bruised cheek and winced.
"He came down to the camp and told us you were here. He said you had been struck down, but...he struck you?" Aria gasped. "But he would never-"
"I know. He was not himself. The Ring...seemed to take him over." Rhian shivered, looking around her. "We must find the others- I do not know where Frodo has gone, but if Boromir loses himself again he must be stopped. He wanted it for Gondor, he said. He wanted to be king. And..." she passed a hand over her eyes. "He wanted me for queen." Aria made a soft sound and took Rhian's hand.
"Let's go down to the boats. Perhaps the others are there."
But they were not. Rhian frowned about her as Aria re-told everything that had happened after she had left. "It is not right," she said. "If we are all scattered, then..." She stopped, staring at the boats. "One's missing."
"What?" Aria came to stand next to her.
"One of the boats is missing!" Rhian turned and began to look through the gear that was left. After a moment she sat back on her heels. "Aria...I think Frodo is gone."
The hobbit girl paled and sank down to kneel beside her. "Gone? But..." She looked so bewildered that Rhian reached out and slipped an arm around her.
"His pack is gone. Sam's as well. And one of the boats..." She twisted to look out over the river. She didn't want to say it, but the words seemed to press up out of her throat. "Mordor is that way."
Aria made a tiny, stifled sound and buried her face in her hands. "He can't! He can't have gone! Not alone! Not without me!" Her heartbroken wail was painful to hear, and Rhian wrapped her arms around her.
"I think he wanted more than anything to spare you," she whispered helplessly. "Maybe more than anything that is what he was afraid of." Rhian looked around again. The some of the gear was scattered; she did not see her sister's pack, but at last she spotted her own, the harp of Lorien tucked carefully in to it so that it would not be jarred when the gear was shifted about. She looked down at the weeping hobbit girl in her arms, wondering where the others were; had Erin found Frodo and gone with him? Was that why she couldn't see her pack? Or perhaps she was with Strider, and on her way back to the hill top...
There was no way to know. And Frodo and Sam were not on the water- they must have already reached the far side of the river. And Rhian felt the pull of her destiny on her chest, tugging with each heart beat, Now! Now! Before she could change her mind, she spoke quickly. "We'll go after them."
Aria lifted her tear-stained face. "After Frodo?"
"Yes. I hope..." she paused. "I hope that Erin will have found him and be with him already. If not, then I hope she is with Strider. If she is, she'll be safe-" Rhian bit her lip, and then went on in a rush. "But Frodo and Sam will be needing aid. We must go after them."
Aria nodded eagerly. "Oh, yes!" She flung her arms around Rhian's neck and gave her a quick hug before going to find her pack. Rhian did the same, strapping her harp to her back and fastening her bow to the straps. She hung her quiver on her belt, settling it on her right hip, to balance her sword on her left. She looked to Aria, who nodded, and seemed to be holding her breath. Rhian grasped the prow of the boat nearest her, braced her legs, and shoved it out into the water.
A/N: HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARWENARIA18! Also known as my dearest Kay! Here's your belated birthday present! A nice, long chapter! And it's even longer than it was originally; the ending felt forced and out of character, so I fixed it. So, for being my good friend, inspiration, fellow author, and favorite reader, this story is officially dedicated to Kaytlyn (in case I hadn't done that already). And all the people said, HUZZAH!
I've finally got the Fellowship broken up and headed their separate ways. So now we will be losing sight of some of our beloved heroes until they meet up again with Our Heroines later in the story. To Be Continued! Next issue: Orcs, Ithilien, Jonathan, aaaaaaaand Bryan! Stay tuned!