A Stranger In The Woods
Chapter 30: In the Woods
The next day, after they had eaten a light breakfast, the fellowship continued up the river. Legolas rowed, once again, insisting that Gimli and Katie not tire themselves. The three of them sat in silence, as tension and dread filled their hearts.
Katie thought about what was going to happen for perhaps the hundredth time that day.
She formed plan after plan in her mind, trying to conceive a way to save Boromir. One thing was certain; she had decided that she would try to save the man, no matter the cost.
'I stood by and did nothing while Gandalf died. I will not let that happen again,' she decided.
She turned and cast a glance at Legolas. The elf was busy studying the rocky cliffs, searching for anything amiss.
He didn't notice her gaze, and Katie took the opportunity to study him, long and hard. He looked worried, a small frown pulling his lips.
This did nothing to deter his beauty, nor Katie's notice of how handsome he was.
Her eyes scanned his face, memorizing every curve, every line.
How badly she wanted to tell him about Boromir's death. About how the fellowship would break. However, she realized that if she did, she would compromise everyone's fate.
Gimli gasped, causing both her and Legolas to snap back to attention.
Katie faced the front, feeling her cheeks flush with embarrassment. She prayed Legolas hadn't noticed her staring; 'Ogling' is more like it, she scolded herself.
"The Aragrornath", whispered Gimli, explaining his gasp.
Katie looked up and sucked in a breath.
Giant statues of two men stood in the distance. Both had a large hand extended in warning.
"A warning for what," she muttered to herself.
"I do not know," whispered Legolas from behind her.
The canoes approached the massive statues, and Katie craned her neck to look up at them as they slid under, feeling awestruck.
"How is this so called breaking of the fellowship going to happen?" Gimli asked, after the statues were a good distance behind them.
Katie looked at the dwarf, wishing she could tell him the truth. "You'll find out soon enough."
A touch on the arm startled her, making her jump. She turned around slowly, knowing what the elf wanted.
Legolas studied her for a moment through narrowed eyes.
"What is going to happen?" he whispered, keeping his voice low enough so that Gimli could not hear.
Katie opened her mouth but no words came out. She wasn't sure if this was a result of fear or his piercing blue eyes.
He leaned towards her, bringing his face within inches of hers.
"Can you not tell me, or will you not tell me?" he asked softly.
"I can't," she whispered, her voice cracking.
Legolas lifted his hand to touch her face but pulled it back in the split-second before his fingers brushed her cheek.
He sat back in his seat and quickly began to row again.
Katie sat there, unable to do anything but blink as she watched him guide the boat towards the falls. He seemed to be looking everywhere except at her.
Before they reached the roaring waterfall, the group turned the boats to dock them onto the shore. Legolas slid their canoe up the bank and sat his oar down as everyone slowly piled out of the boats, legs sore from sitting too long.
The hobbits quickly began gathering some sticks to make a small fire.
Katie stood by a large tree at the edge of the banks, keeping her eye on Frodo.
"I will go and get more firewood," he stated in a low melancholy voice.
Apparently, no one except Katie seemed to notice the depression dripping in his words.
"Alright," Aragorn said with a dismissive nod as he unloaded some of their supplies. He turned to Pippin, "Go and help him," he ordered.
Katie watched as both hobbits walked into the woods, literally biting her lip to keep from yelling out a warning.
She saw something move out of the corner of her eye and turned just in time to see Boromir slid silently into the woods after Frodo.
Katie looked around desperately, yet no one save her seemed to notice his departure.
Gimli and Merry were tending the fire, while Sam slept propped up against a rock.
Aragorn continued to unload their supplies, obviously lost in his own thoughts.
Legolas was busy eyeing the trees, as if they were going to come alive and attack him.
Katie felt panic rising up, hot and thick in her chest.
'I have to find Frodo,' she decided, absentmindedly reaching down to clutch the handle of her sword. She quietly slipped into the trees, following Frodo's path. Then she began to run.
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Katie sprinted through the forest, afraid that she would be too late to stop Boromir. Her eyes scanned the woods for any sign of them, without luck. She continued to run, dodging trees and stumbling over roots. Every moment that passed, she felt panic seething deeper into her heart.
Finally, she ground to a stop, unable to find the strength to run anymore. She bent over with her hands on her thighs, panting loudly in exhaustion.
She looked around searching for a sign, when everything became excruciatingly clear.
"I can't stop this!" she realized in dismay.
"Why have I been stupid enough to try," she wondered softly.
Just then, another realization hit her. She was alone. All alone in a forest filled with orcs.
Panic fluttered inside her. Suddenly, she wasn't so exhausted. She began to run in what she hoped was the direction of the boats. Just then, a huge figure stepped out from behind a tree and stood directly in her path.
Katie felt her eyes widen in horror as she recognized the monster.
A Ukhai.
The beast took a step towards her and Katie did the first thing she could think of. She closed her eyes and screamed.
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Legolas used his extraordinary vision to scan the woods, searching for any trace of Katie. He was also looking for Frodo, but decided to find the woman first. Suddenly, a blood-curling scream echoed throughout the trees, coming from about a half mile west. It was her. His heart dropped to the ground.
He began running as fast as he could towards the scream, knowing she was in trouble.
'I cannot let her die,' he thought desperately as he dodged through the trees.
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