Hidden Secrets

Disclaimer: I only own Aranwen, Beran, Star, and the plot!

Chapter Nineteen: Encounter With Lurtz

T.A. 3019

Aranwen had barely made it back to her hiding spot before the Urk-hai attacked. She picked off several with her bow before she switched to her sword and dagger. She blessed her sword, like Aragorn had before rushing headlong into battle. She worked her way through the massive group of Urk-hai, killing all in her path. She kept her eyes open for signs of a member of the Fellowship. The first member that she saw was Pippin, who was standing beside Merry.

She quickly ran towards them and took a flying leap into the group of Urk-hai in front of them. It was a stupid move, but she didn't care. It gave her a few more seconds than if she had run all the way. Just as she jumped to her feet, Boromir joined her and the two warriors stood in front of the brave Hobbits, protecting them from harm. Boromir blew his horn and Aranwen knew that it was only a matter of time before the rest of the Fellowship joined them.

Hordes of Urk-hai came rushing towards them and Aranwen and Boromir slew all those who came near them. The Hobbits joined in, knocking an Urk down and stabbing him before Aranwen yelled at them, "Run! Run and hide!" and they took off.

The horn of Gondor filled the air once more.

Aranwen paused in her fighting to look up the hill. To her horror, she saw the leader of the Urk-hai, Lurtz. He had fitted an arrow to his bow and was aiming it at Boromir. She glanced at Boromir who had not seen it.

"Get down!" she yelled at Boromir who looked up. He froze and Aranwen dove towards him, knocking him down and out of the path of the arrow. For her effort, Aranwen received the arrow in her right arm.

She hopped up off the ground and put her sword in her weaker left hand. She slipped her dagger in its sheath. A little arrow wound wasn't going to stop her from fighting.

Lurtz growled in annoyance and fitted another arrow to his bow and this time hit his mark. But like Aranwen, Boromir stood back up and kept fighting. Lurtz hit him again and he faltered but kept fighting. Aranwen knew that Boromir was dying and that if she tried to save him, Lurtz would not hesitate to fill her full of arrows as well. She wanted to help him and the Hobbits but she was unable to do both. But she changed her mind when the third arrow flew towards Boromir and she threw herself in the path of it.

The arrow struck her in the middle of her right shoulder, just beside her neck. She knew that she was dying now and if she died so would her unborn child. But she couldn't fight anymore. Maybe death wouldn't be so bad. After all, she had chosen to put herself in the path of the arrows. Death by arrows. How ironic. The first time Beran had tried to kill her, he had shot her with an arrow.

Aranwen lay on the ground, trying not to move and applying pressure to her new wound. She watched as Lurtz fired a third arrow into Boromir and he slowly came down to his knees. The Hobbits screamed and charged at the Urk-hai, seeing that their protectors were both down. Aranwen wrapped her shoulder wound and taking a deep breath, lunged at the nearest Urk with her sword. Somehow she found the strength to continue fighting once more.

But the Hobbits were picked up the Urk-hai who they rushed at. "Help!" they cried and Aranwen turned to help them but she was too slow to help them. She bit her lip and kept on fighting. She had failed to protect the sweet, innocent little Hobbits.

The Urk-hai rushed off, following the two had taken the Hobbits. They raced around the dying Boromir and injured Aranwen. Only Lurtz remained, aiming to fire an arrow into Aranwen. Aranwen weakly stood up, facing him, prepared to meet her death when Aragorn came flying into her sight and tackled Lurtz.

Aranwen's weakened body gave in and she crumpled to the ground. She tried to watch her father fight Lurtz but she couldn't see them.

Aragorn locked blades with the vicious Urk and Lurtz knocked him backward into a tree. His sword dropped from his hand and Lurtz sent his shield towards the Ranger, which encircled his neck and pinned him to the tree. Lurtz came at him with a blade, intending to slice his head off, when Aragorn managed to duck out from the shield and drop to the ground.

Aragorn rolled out of harm's way and kicked the blade from the Urk before he unsheathed his dagger and stabbed Lurtz in the leg. Lurtz threw Aragorn a ways before pulling the dagger from his leg and licking his own blood from the blade and tossing it at Aragorn who blocked it with his found sword.

A sword fight ensued in which Aragorn severed Lurtz's left arm, above the elbow, from his body and stuck his sword through his stomach. Lurtz growled at Aragorn and drew the sword and Aragorn closer to him. Aragorn withdrew his sword and sliced the Urk's head off. Panting and bloody, Aragorn glanced towards Aranwen and Boromir.

"No!" he cried as he raced towards them.

"Ada?" called Aranwen softly.

Aragorn knelt between his daughter and Boromir. Both were pierced with arrows. He reached his hand towards the one in Aranwen's shoulder, intending to pull it out. Her blood covered hand reached out and covered his, and she whispered, "Boromir, first."

"No," he said shaking his hand.

"See to Boromir. I'm fine," she insisted.

Aragorn sighed and turned towards Boromir. "Hold still," he told the Man as he went to pull an arrow from him.

Boromir attempted to stop him, but Aragorn was faster and managed to pull one of the arrows out. He reached for another one and yanked it out and then the third.

"They took them," whispered Boromir, hoarsely. "The little ones. Forgive me."

"You fought bravely," Aragorn told him.

"The world of Men will fall and all will come to darkness and my beloved city to ruin. I have seen it."

"I do not know what strength is in my blood, but I swear to you, I will not let the White City fall, nor our people fail."

"Our people," whispered Boromir with a slight smile.

Aragorn returned his smile and put the fallen Man's sword in his hand. Boromir raised the sword to his chest and said, "I would have followed you to whatever end, my brother. My captain. My king."

With that, Boromir passed on and Aragorn whispered, "Be at peace, son of Gondor," and kissed Boromir's forehead before turning to Aranwen.

Aranwen's gray-blue eyes had been watching him and she smiled. She had pulled her pouch from her waist and it lay beside her. She had applied pressure to the wound in her arm, but she had been unable to pull the arrows out.

"Aranwen," he said.

"Surprised to see me, ada?"

"Have you been following us?"

"Since Lothlorien," she admitted.

"Neth ohtar nin," Aragorn said with a smile.

"Neth rana lin," Aranwen corrected.

"Hold still, rana, so I can remove those arrows."

"Rhaich!" hissed Aranwen as Aragorn carefully removed the arrows.

Legolas appeared and said, "Iston le?"
Aranwen glared at him and rudely hissed, "Ti tallbe Yurch!"

"Aranwen! Daro i!" commanded Aragorn.

"Goheno nin, ada," apologized Aranwen.

"You are forgiven, Aranwen. Now can you tell me what you are doing here instead of being safely hidden in Lothlorien or Rivendell?"

"I wanted to help with the Ring Quest. I was worried about you, ada. I had a vision about Moria and I thought you had died! I told myself that I would not allow that to happen again. It was my decision to run away and follow you."

"Aranwen, I left you in Rivendell for a reason. I did not want to have to face losing you. I would never forgive myself if you died when I was supposed to protect you."

"I feel the same. I felt that I should have been there to help you."

"I cannot send you back alone, and we cannot turn back. You will just have to continue on with us."

"You need my help. Just admit it, ada."

"No, you are the one who needs my help," Aragorn said with a smile.

Author's Notes:

I hope everyone likes this chapter! I loved writing it and I hope everyone likes it. This is the last chapter dealing with the part of the Lord of the Rings known as "The Fellowship of the Ring". The next chapter takes place during "The Two Towers". Look for it tomorrow.

Elvish translations:

Neth ohtar nin. – My young warrior.

Neth rana lin. – Your young wanderer.

rana – wanderer

Rhaich! – Curses!

Iston le? – Do I know you?

Ti tallbe Yurch! – Go kiss an Orc!

Daro i! – Stop that!

Goheno nin, ada. – Forgive me, father.

Reviewers!

IwishChan – Boromir doesn't, but Aranwen sure does.

Fae Black – Stalking can be fun. Aranwen's much better at than I am though.