A/n: Just so you are all aware, I'm not very impressed with this chapter, but it is important to the story. I've revised it umpteenth times and decided I would leave it as this until I come back and maybe once I'm satisfied I'll replace it with new content.

I apologize up front for any confusion you get from this chapter and hope that it gets cleared up for you later on.

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Piccolo gripped the side of the boat in a large hand, staring down into the depthless water. He wasn't afraid of falling out exactly, he could swim and probably could have started at one side of the lake and gone faster than the boats were moving now, but he had unfortunately agreed to ride with Merry and Pippin. The Hobbit's spirits were still sullen, but after a little heckling from Boromir and some playful fighting with Gimli, the four were closer to their usual selves. Now, seated in the back with an oar in hand, Piccolo had to restrain himself from beating the two little one's with it. At the start they were both fine, sitting side by side and laughing over old stories and telling each other jokes that Piccolo didn't find the least bit amusing. After five minutes, they began to get fidgety. It had started harmlessly as Merry's tapping foot, but then that foot had stepped on Pippin's toe. Pippin, startled but no more harmed than anyone would be by having their toe tapped, had elbowed Merry non-too gently in the side. And twenty seconds later, they were rolling over each other on the bottom of the boat.

Legolas, Sam and Frodo had shrugged as Piccolo pointed viciously down at the Hobbit's rocking their small boat, not knowing what to do to make them stop. The men were leading the way, only looking back to make sure that everyone was following; and Goku and Vegeta were with Gimli. Goku paddling happily along and Vegeta grinning from ear to ear at Piccolo's plight.

The boat gave a great jolt and it tipped violently to the right. Piccolo clutched the side of the boat and grabbed a hold of Merry just as the Hobbit began to flop out. "ENOUGH!" Piccolo's deep voice echoed around the Anduin, bouncing back several times. Oars ceased paddling and every head turned. Piccolo was standing in the boat that was now returning to its bottom, two frightened Hobbit's grabbing their heads were huddled together.

The dinghy of men turned back around with wide smiles, Gimli peered over the edge of the saiyajin's craft and Legolas stared at him with a look of muted humor. Sitting down, Piccolo began to paddle again, glaring daggers at the two Hobbits as one would begin to twitch again, only to still under the frosty gaze.

Gimli grinned at the two saiyajins, Goku beaming back at him. "The Namek has a way with little ones doesn't he?"

Vegeta snorted, trailing a hand in the water and looked across the way at Piccolo who was scowling down into the boats bottom. He suppressed a grin and looked across the water at the other crane neck boats and frowned. That creeping feeling along his spine grew considerably as they went, he had tried his best to ignore it but it seemed it would keep itself known.

Vegeta looked down at a stubby fingered hand that gripped the edge of the boat and followed the arm up to its owners face. Gimli was scowling down into the water, his rusty beard tipped over the edge and nearly touching the waters surface.

"You okay?" Goku tilted his head to the side like a curious puppy and Gimli coughed and straightened in his seat.

"Aye lad. As well as I can be."

Goku nodded his head sagely, "You can feel it too huh? Geez, I was hoping it was just me."

Two sets of sharp eyes settled on the tall saiyajin and Goku paused in his paddling to scratch the back of his head. "Did I say something wrong?"

Gimli sighed and shook his head, "No. It just seems to me that if someone else is feeling the Lidless Eye watching that I can no longer ignore it."

Vegeta nodded his head lightly though he had no clue what the dwarf had meant by 'the Lidless Eye'. But to all the winds he could feel it, that icy trickle on the spine that suddenly flames.

Goku paddled a few more strokes before poking his tongue out the side of his mouth and furrowing his brows in thought. "What's a lidless eye?"

Gimli looked startled but settled in his seat and narrowed his eyes, "Are you telling me lad that you are on this adventure and know not your enemy?"

Goku looked thoughtful for a moment before nodding his head. Gimli scratched as his beard and mumbled incoherently for some time before squaring his broad shoulders. "I'll tell ye then, though I am not much for story telling.

"You have heard of Sarumon?" When he received a nod he sighed in relief before continuing. "Well the White Wizard is only a puppet of Sauron. The Lidless Eye is an eye of fire, Sauron's eye, and it sees all. Sauron is the master of the ring that is around that poor Hobbits neck, and no matter where that ring goes or who holds it, it is always wanting to go back to him."

He paused to look to his companions who both held opposite looks. Goku's mouth hung agape and eyes wide, while the small prince was scowling harder than Gimli had ever seen in his life. "The closer we get to Mount Doom, the stronger I can feel it."

"So we are close then?" Vegeta sat rigid.

"Nay, lad. We are still far from the accursed place." Silence fell on them for a time and they watched as the far bank drew closer. Gimli turned his head to look back the way they had come and Vegeta smirked when he heard Gimli mutter under his breath. "Though it is still far too close for me."

---

A wind had picked up by the time they reached the far shore. Piccolo stepped from the boat and hauled it onto the shore easily, the Hobbit's still inside afraid to move before allowed. Piccolo nodded and the two leapt down from the boat, sitting under a large tree and remaining abnormally quiet until Frodo and Sam were picked up and set down on the shore by Piccolo. Piccolo helped Legolas pull his own craft onto the bank and shrugged off the thanks as he tried to figure out what they would do next.

Legolas frowned lightly as Piccolo turned away to help Boromir and Aragorn with their equipment. Gimli stood next to the fair prince and followed his gaze. Biting the end of his pipe, Gimli smiled gently up at the elf and patted his thigh.

"Com'on, laddie. We best get our things as well." Legolas smiled down at the dwarf and nodded, looking over his shoulder and furrowing his brows a moment before helping Gimli into his boat.

"We should start a fire. That wind isn't going to stop anytime soon and we are half soaked." Aragorn looked across the assembled. Frodo turned his blue eyes to the forest and nodded his head.

"I'll go."

Aragorn nodded his agreement and watched as the Hobbit picked his way along the trees. Boromir stood with a hand on the hilt of his blade. "I'll go as well, someone should watch after him."

The others watched them go as they began to set up camp. Piccolo watched Frodo disappear into the trees, Boromir's heavy steps fading along with him. Uneasiness spread along Piccolo's stomach and he stared intently into the trees.

Gimli nudged Legolas who had sat beside him, thumbing through his belongings for a dry tunic. The elf looked to his friend and Gimli nodded at Piccolo. "What do you suppose is wrong with that creature?"

Legolas watched, curious. "He is protective of the Hobbit's. That is all."

Gimli frowned, puffing at his pipe and blew smoke curls slowly out of his nostrils. "Mmm."

"You are too suspicious, master dwarf." Legolas grinned, successfully pulling a fresh tunic from his satchel.

Gimli nodded his head slowly and scratched as his chin with his thumb. "Or perhaps, you are not suspicious enough." Legolas untied the chords of his tunic and frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Gimli blew another plume of smoke into the air and watched his friend with narrowed eyes. "These creatures are not from our world, Legolas. It would do you good to remember that."

Legolas gripped the bottom of his tunic and pulled it violently over his head. "They have done nothing to make us believe they are deceitful." Legolas voice had risen in volume and the others were staring in their direction. Goku's eyes were wide and innocent to the conversation, Vegeta however was glaring daggers at Gimli and if Legolas had been closer he would have heard the low growl from his chest. Vegeta's eyes flicked between the two, and when they settled again on Gimli, the dwarf gave him a chaste wink and crooked grin. Vegeta snorted and turned back to Goku, letting Gimli rib the poor elf to his wont.

Piccolo was looking directly at Legolas with narrowed eyes. He hadn't heard the conversation for fretting over the feeling in his stomach and watching Frodo. Now he wished he had, he would rather know who his friends were in this group and make sure he left those reluctant to take their aid to their own devices during battle.

Legolas, realizing his state of undress pulled the fresh tunic over his head and sat down, drawing on the strings as he tied them.

There was no reply for some time and Legolas was grateful. He pulled his hair from the back of his collar and secured his arm guards while Gimli watched him with the smallest of smiles. "They fight amongst themselves. You've seen it."

Legolas looked up at his friend and saw the smile in his eyes. "Yes. But were we not just in an argument ourselves?"

Gimli nodded his head and tapped the remains of his tobacco out of his pipe, kicking loose sand over the faintly glowing remains.

The two looked around them for a moment before coming to rest on the whole reason for their conversation. Piccolo was seated in his usual lotus style by the trees, arms crossed over his chest. Within moments of their silent appraisal, Piccolo sat rigid and quickly got to his feet. Gimli nudged his friend with an 'I told you he was mad' look on his face when Goku and Vegeta both turned in the same direction.

Goku's face dropped from the large grin he had worn while talking to Vegeta back into his warrior face. "Frodo."

The three took off into the trees, moving as swiftly as the wind, the others struggling to figure out what was happening and trying vainly to keep up.

---

Bulma smiled politely, ankle deep in mud and muck dripping from the bottom of her skirts, as 'Elin set a tray down on the makeshift table in the corner. The time machine had been entirely dismantled for an entire day, pieces piled by use and importance and this morning Bulma ran down a checklist to make sure it was still all there. It took her until noon to finish the list before she could get down to work, but she didn't want to lose even a single screw while they were trapped here.

'Elin smiled and gathered her skirts in her hands as she stepped around the deeper areas of muck and squatted neatly beside Bulma as she carefully picked through a stack of computer chips and wires. 'Elin didn't say a word, she had grown used to Bulma's eccentric moods and learned that the scientific beauty was only geared up into mechanical mode while she was working. Since 'Elin had never seen anything that even resembled the smallest piece of what the woman worked on, she had only observed and made sure not to touch anything. Lord Elrond had made sure that she knew the importance of Bulma's machine.

Bulma huffed and stood, plopping solidly in a chair with a note of finality. 'Elin shuffled over the gooey ground to the far chair and settled, removed the lid from the tray and poured Bulma a glass.

"How are you today, Alora?" 'Elin curled her hands in her lap and watched as Bulma wiped her hands on a napkin before picking through the fruit.

"I'm fine, 'Elin. And don't call me Alora okay? Just Bulma." Bulma popped a grape into her mouth and sighed at how sweet it was.

"Of course." 'Elin nodded her head, a mischievous smile on her lips.

Bulma cocked an eyebrow and took a sip of wine. "What?"

"It's nothing." 'Elin shook her head, a fine braid falling into her face.

A few moments passed, Bulma eating quietly and watching 'Elin with a curious look. Finally after finishing her glass Bulma couldn't take the quiet giggles and odd looks any longer. "What is it? For kami's sake, tell me!"

'Elin beamed, pushing the braid behind her ear. "I heard you spoke with Lord Elrond yesterday."

Bulma shrugged, finger-combing her azure hair from her face. "Yea, so?"

"Well I heard it was over Arwen." 'Elin's face grew brighter. Bulma simply looked at her. 'Elin pressed, "And you both got heated..."

"Are you trying to tell me something?" Bulma quirked an eyebrow, a lock of blue hair curled tightly around her finger.

'Elin huffed. "Alora, I mean Bulma, the Lord hasn't come from his study for hours. Naturally we're all interested in what may have happened." She smiled secretively.

"For goodness sake, 'Elin get your mind out of the gutter!" Bulma tinted. 'Elin looked at her queerly, not grasping her meaning. "We got into an argument that's all!"

'Elin nodded, smiling softly and leaned back in her chair, hands still lying on her lap. Bulma watched her in silence, unconsciously popping another grape into her mouth. ".so, do you mean Lord Elrond had some ulterior motive for bringing me around the castle?"

'Elin shrugged and stood gracefully, piling dishes and picked up the tray. "I can't say for certain Bulma, but for the time I have been a servant here, not once have I seen him lock himself in his study. Not for simply for being angry." She beamed at her as she opened the door. Bulma's mouth opened to question her further, but the door shut with a small click and she was left to brood as she began to rummage through the pile of parts strewn around the workshop.

---

Boromir lay on the packed earth on the verge of weeping. Frodo had run, and his insides had turned to ice as the realization of the horror on the Hobbit's face finally ate into his heart. He had done as the Lady had warned him he would, now the Fellowship would break and Middle Earth would fall into Saruman's hands, and it was his fault. The sound of pounding footfalls made him look up and he shrieked as a large green hand embedded itself in his hair and hauled him to his feet.

The Namek had never looked so enraged. Boromir had made several off-handed comments to his other companions about the beast that trailed after them. How he looked so evil, how he would be the one to kill Frodo in his sleep, how the damned thing never showed any emotion. But the seething anger, had it any more heat, would surely have seered into his skin. And now, as Boromir tensed in preparation for the blow he deserved, Piccolo dropped him and began to spin lazily looking intently into the woods, glaring into the thick line of trees.

The other two of his companions stopped on the skirt of trees and were doing the same. Boromir stood shakily, looking nervously between them as Aragorn burst through shortly after. As soon as the ranger's eyes locked onto his, Boromir pointed with a shaky hand to the battered fortress on the hilltop and the ranger was gone.

Legolas and Gimli were not far behind the ranger, the lithe elf quickly dispatching himself toward the hill were Aragorn had disappeared. Gimli panted jogging after his friends before pausing and watching the trio of strangers with a confused glance. The sound of thundering footsteps soon resounded in the clearing, the first ugly orc pushing his way through the trees bellowed mightily and raised his blade as a river of orcs followed behind him.

"What the hell is that?" Piccolo's mouth gaped but only for a second as his composure took him. He grunted and nodded, nearly imperceptible, to the saiyajins and without a word they began their attack.

The first kills were flawless, blue-black blood soon flowed in sticky trails across the earth. Piccolo using his own size as leverage against the beasts, Vegeta and Goku playing off of each other's attacks, vicious in their blows and flawless in their calculations. Orcs soon littered the ground, Gimli hacking mercilessly while working his way up the hill to his friends where they could see more troops of orc busting through the trees.

The trio of outsiders soon followed suit, following the dwarf through the brush and guarding his back from the thickening throng of foul beasts. They all breached the line of trees in a rain of arrows. Aragorn was bellowing to them, and orders were followed quickly without question. -Though there was hesitation, especially on Vegeta's part, but Goku nudged him and the Ouji growled under his breath, scowling as he destroyed one beast after the other. Legolas stood atop a worn shamble of bricks. His right arm pin wheeling so quickly with arrows that it was nearly a blur.

As the battle raged, Piccolo was too caught up in the smell of blood and the feel of hard flesh bruising beneath his fists to notice the small spark of ki he recognized as Frodo running toward the Anduin and away.

Legolas drove an arrow into the throat of an oncoming orc and quickly notched it, firing it into the chest of another as he ran. He scanned the crowds quickly and saw Piccolo surrounded by a throng of orcs and he had a sickening sense of déjà vu that roiled his stomach. The horn of Gondor trumpeted through the forest, visibly shaking Legolas from his stupor as he butchering a beast that nearly pounced upon him. Boromir was in trouble. The group of warriors ran to his aid, slaying beasts and trying vainly to gain the ground between them and their falling comrade.

When they arrived, less than a dozen remained while the greater troops were charging at full speed from the forest. Legolas shot two in quick succession, the senshi making quick work of the remaining while Aragorn knelt beside Boromir, the man was riddled with arrows and deep gashes.

Piccolo and the saiyajins stood, panting and shaking blood from their arms. Piccolo's hearing not trained on any one thing soon picked out the words that came strangled through the dying throat of Boromir.

"They've.they've taken the little ones." A whimper of pain and gasp followed but Piccolo barely heard it. Instead he pushed out his ki, feeling frantically for the life force of the small Hobbits, his heart pounding harder in his chest. What he felt nearly tore his mind in two. They were separated, and they were going in opposite directions. He couldn't run after them, couldn't save them. times of trouble lie ahead and you must accept them as they are. Know that in the end all that you fret for will find its way to you. The words of Lady Galadriel echoed in his head and Piccolo could feel his anger swelling. She knew, she had known at yet she refused to tell him. He could have prevented it! They could all be alive and moving along peacefully right now!

The outside of Piccolo's vision clouded crimson and he clenched his eyes shut to stop the surging of his blood and tried to calm his mind. A cool hand touched his shoulder and he turned vehemently, one fist cocked. The calm eyes of the elf stared back at him through his haze, his fist shaking from restraint loosened and fell to his side. He looked down on the flaxen hair and felt helplessness wrangle his heart. "They're all gone." His voice was a low croak and Legolas looked at him with mild surprise at the display of emotion, then his eyes widened further as his mind processed what the Namek had told him.

"Where is Frodo?" Legolas spoke loudly, scanning the trees with quick eyes. Aragorn stood slowly.

"He's headed to the river." The ranger's voice was low and calm.

"We have to catch him!" Legolas ran into the trees and moments later the remaining crew of the Fellowship followed.

The trees were a blur as they ran, Piccolo quickly caught up with the elf and ran by his side, both coming onto the riverbank and drawing short. One of the boats had been pushed away and was very nearly banking on the far side of the shore. The two saiyajins, Aragorn and Gimli soon stumbled from the trees and Legolas ran toward the man grabbing him by the shoulder and pointing dumbly toward the small vessel as two Hobbits pulled it ashore and rapidly disappeared in the brush.

Legolas soon had a hand on one of the boats and was ready to push; Piccolo watched in silence, there was something he was missing here. Aragorn was still standing rather stolidly and gazing across the water where the Hobbits had disappeared. Piccolo's eyes narrowed. They weren't going after Frodo.he had been set free.

Legolas nearly growled in frustration. "Quickly, they will soon disappear!" He pushed a little on the boat to get them moving but paused to look over his shoulder when no one came to his aid. Vegeta was glaring, Goku scratching at his head, and Aragorn. "You mean not to go after them."

Legolas dropped his hand from the boat's edge and felt a weight settle in his stomach. Piccolo's gravely voice soon broke the ensuing silence. "What do we do now?"

Gimli nodded his agreement. "We have failed."

The dwarf looked at his feet and Aragorn set a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "The Fellowship has broken, but that does not mean that we can give up. We must hold on to hope." The small group of warriors shuffled on their feet, spirits tattered but all were willing to have them mended. Aragorn grinned slowly. "Besides, we have two Hobbits to save." Gimli beamed up at him and shouldered his axe.

"Aye, I'm with you, laddie."

Provisions were gathered in record time, and soon the group of six was trudging through the forests, tracking the orcs that held captive two of the innocents.

---

Bulma frowned sadly down at the broken stabilizer on the tabletop. She may be able to fix it if only she could find a metal worker. Dark circles ringed her eyes and she yawned mightily. She had stayed up during the night, carefully reconnecting wires and positioning equipment. She only started to rebuild, it would most likely take several more weeks to get the entire machine back together.that is if she could repair the damaged equipment.

Elin entered without bothering to knock and stood over Bulma with her hands on her hips. It took several minutes of the elf tapping her foot before the blue haired beauty even noticed she had company.

Bulma smiled sleepily up at her friend and knuckled one of her eyes. "Hello, Elin."

Elin sighed. "Lady Bulma you have not slept. You need to get some rest."

Stretching and letting out a slow groan, Bulma stood up with a mesh of wires clamped in her hand. "I will, Elin. I just want to finish the altimeter before I do." Elin looked oddly at her before stepping in front of the exhausted woman and blocking her path.

"Lord Elrond demands that you get some rest." Elin tried to look stern but she grinned and ruined the effect.

Huffing, Bulma walked brusquely by her friend and squatted on the ground, measuring out wire and mumbling to herself. She looked over her shoulder and saw Elin frowning down at her, arms crossed over her chest. Bulma giggled, Elin looked like a female Vegeta, only prettier, and sweeter, and funnier. :Dear Kami, I am exhausted.: Bulma shook her head.

"If Elrond demands that I do anything, he should at least have the courage to tell me himself." Bulma snapped. Setting the partially re-assembled altimeter on the floor of the machine, Bulma yawned wide. "It would be so great if you guys had caffeine." She looked over her shoulder to smile at Elin but realized the girl had left. Shrugging, Bulma turned back to her work, yawned again, and began turning screws with a sharpened rock.

Lord Elrond was headed to the particular section of grounds he had been avoiding adamantly for several days. He hadn't meant to kiss the woman he took in, and for the first time in his millennia of years, he wasn't sure what to do about the situation. He had contemplated right out apologizing to her, possibly explaining that he was not attracted to her in such a way.but he would have been lying. At a weaker moment he was determined to tell her that it was an elfish custom after having an argument, though thankfully his mind returned quickly to him before he could embarrass himself horribly with that train of logic.

Now, the young Elin had informed him that the woman hadn't slept for nearly two days and had refused to go to her chambers for rest. Even as he strode purposefully toward the small shack, he felt a flux of unease, he didn't want the Lady to be uncomfortable in his presence. He knocked solidly on the door, hoping to mask his disquiet by being slightly harsh and indifferent.

Bulma was sitting on the ground, bent over a piece of some contraption or other. Elrond noticed that she hadn't heard the knock, or maybe chose to ignore it. Clearing his throat, Elrond walked further into the space, picking up a small hunk of metal that looked very much like a vial that had a severe crack down one smooth side.

A soft noise of surprise reminded him of his adventure here and he set the metal back to the table and looked down his thin nose at the woman who sat amongst strewn parts. "Elin tells me you refuse to gain your rest."

Bulma scowled at him. "I told her I would once I finished with this." She turned back to the altimeter before Elrond could see the light blush that began to creep into her cheeks.

"It would be prudent of you to take a respite from your work. It would not do to make an error from fatigue." Elrond smiled lightly as Bulma seemed to deflate under his gaze. She set a filed stone on the ground and stood up with a soft groan, dusting her skirts.

"Fine." She sighed, finally regaining enough composure to look at Lord Elrond in the eye. "Lead away."

Elrond nodded his head, thick auburn hair spilling across his shoulders as he turned. Bulma flushed lightly when she thought of how it may feel under her fingers, :I bet it's like silk. Oh man do I need some sleep.:

They took a slow but steady pace back to the main hall, stopping before the heavy doors that marked Bulma's quarters. Lord Elrond began to push the door open but paused. "Lady Bulma, I would like to discuss what happened a few days ago."

Bluma blinked in surprise at how blunt he had come across. She smiled sheepishly and willed away any blushing that started to rise. "Forget about it." She waved her hand in dismissal.

Elrond nodded his head again, his smile wavering. "Of course. Consider it forgotten."