Chance Encounter

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognize. I'm just borrowing them without permission but with every intention of putting them back where they belong after I'm through with them.

Chapter 15: Unexpected Guest

Balian glared venomously at the newcomer. "Guy de Lusignan," he said in a low voice, almost spitting the words out as if they tasted foul.

"Well, well," sneered Guy "The Perfect Knight." His tone was haughty even though his voice was hoarse from exhaustion.

Boromir saw Balian stiffen and he thought the blacksmith might lose control of his temper any moment. 'Even he has someone who can bring out his darker side,' thought the future steward of Gondor. 'Who would've known?' It seemed as if in a matter of moments, Balian had become another man. When he was looking at Guy, there was very little left in him of the gentle blacksmith that they knew.

"Wait, wait," said a bewildered Aragorn "you mean this is the infamous Guy de Lusignan?"

"There is only one Guy de Lusignan," growled Balian darkly "and one too many."

"Show some respect for your betters, blacksmith," said Guy arrogantly. Balian paled with anger. He balled his fists, getting ready to hit the man who had insulted him. To his credit, he did not lash out. Instead, he turned on his heel and strode away, his back as straight and stiff as the shaft of a spear.

Aragorn turned to Boromir. "Take him back to camp," he said and with that, he ran after Balian.

Boromir watched the ranger go, and could not help but feel admiration for Balian. 'That man has infinite patience,' he thought. 'I would have hit Guy if I was in his place.' He yanked at Guy's arm roughly. "Come on," he said curtly "Move."

Aragorn caught up with Balian a few moments later. The younger man was leaning against a tree with his face turned skyward. His eyes were closed and he was taking deep breaths. Aragorn approached him cautiously. "Balian?" he said softly. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Aragorn," said Balian, opening his eyes "just slightly…annoyed."

"Listen," began Aragorn "I know there is bad blood between you and Guy but we can't just leave him out here to die."

"You mean you're going to take him with us?" demanded Balian.

"There is no other way. If he is captured, he will be able to give our enemies a clue as to where we are going. I'll try to keep him as far away from you as possible. It's all I can do."

"I'm not worried for myself. That man has no honour; I fear for Frodo and the quest."

"We'll keep an eye on Guy and an eye on Frodo. We won't let Guy near him. Come, let's go back to camp. I want to see how your hand is healing."

When the ranger and the blacksmith arrived at the camp, everyone looked surprised to see Balian's dark expression. He did not say anything as Aragorn inspected the newly inflicted burn on his hand. While in Lothlorien, Aragorn had used another burn to cover the orc brand on the back of Balian's hand. The blacksmith's face was blank and devoid of emotion as Aragorn examined the red and angry looking wound. He did not speak when the ranger declared that it was healing well. He made no sound throughout dinner and his mood seemed to affect everyone. The meal was a cheerless and sombre affair.

As soon as the meal was over, Legolas pulled Balian aside. "It's Guy isn't it?" the elf asked. "He's making you feel insecure and uncomfortable. I know he's tried to kill you twice and given the chance, he'd gladly try it again but you can't let him ruin everything. Everyone's very fond of you and Frodo trusts you. Your moods affect us all. Frodo needs you to be strong for him."

"I'm not worried for my own safety," said Balian. "I'm worried about Frodo and the Ring. Men like Guy are especially susceptible to temptation. He won't hesitate to take the Ring for his own."

"Then we must not give him a chance to do that," said Legolas. "Guard Frodo well; he trusts you. Don't let him down."

Balian nodded. "I won't," he said.

"Good," said Legolas. "Now take that grim expression off your face. It'll curdle milk and turn wine into vinegar."

Planning the seating arrangements in the morning proved to be difficult. Balian's boat was the only one with extra space but he adamantly refused to share his boat with Guy. None of the hobbits wanted to share with the newcomer either. Surprisingly, it was Boromir who solved the problem. He had taken pity on Balian and offered to take Guy if Balian would take Merry and Pippin.

Despite his offer, Boromir still felt tremendous dislike for Guy and although he did not hate Balian anymore, he didn't exactly like him either. The journey was tense. Guy talked about nothing but how Balian had stolen his wife. Boromir was not surprised. If he was Sibylla, he would have fallen for Balian too. At least the blacksmith did not sneer and he was not arrogant.

Aragorn kept glancing back at Balian. He seemed to have taken the turn of events rather well, despite his initial reactions. His voice was calm and controlled whenever he spoke, which was not often. Although Guy continued to insult him whenever he got the chance, Balian remained coldly courteous. This impressed Aragorn to no end. He knew how Balian felt, travelling with Guy. It was like him being forced to travel with Bill Ferny or making Legolas travel with either an orc or Gollum. Neither of them would have been able to hold their tempers in check.

True to his word, Aragorn tried his best to keep Guy away from Balian. He and Legolas often took Balian with them to scout ahead when they were on land. Catastrophe did almost occur once, when Aragorn asked Guy to collect firewood.

"That's a servant's work," said Guy, looking at Aragorn as if he thought the ranger was out of his mind to suggest such a thing. "Make the midgets do it, or the dwarf, or the elf." As soon as he finished the last syllable, a black blur came out of nowhere and slammed Guy into a tree. It was a seething Balian.

"Listen, Lusignan," he snarled. "We're all equals. If Aragorn asks you to do something, you do it. There's no master and servant here. And when you address my friends, you will do so with respect."

Everyone gaped at him. They had never seen Balian so aggressive towards something that was not an orc.

"Go Balian," said Pippin so softly that only Merry —who was right beside him— and Legolas could hear him.

"Aye, go Balian," Merry echoed while Legolas just grinned at the two youngest hobbits and said nothing.

Guy finally managed to push Balian away. He stormed off to do what Aragorn had asked, still muttering threats and insults under his breath.

After Guy had gone, Gimli let out a whistle of appreciation. "Well done, lad," chuckled the dwarf. "I didn't know you had it in you!"

"Obviously you didn't watch him kill orcs in Moria," said Aragorn dryly. "He fought like one possessed."

"Still, they were orcs," Merry pointed out. "Guy is a man."

"He's almost an orc," said Legolas. "How could you let him live, Balian?"

For the first time in a while, Balian smiled.

They reached the Argonath after five days' journey downriver. Even Guy was rendered speechless by the magnificence of the Argonath. The statues of Elendil and Isildur were as tall as a large hill and carved out of the cliffs. Boromir glanced back at Guy. The man was wearing an awestruck expression tinted with envy. From what Balian had told him, Boromir guessed that Guy probably regretted not building statues like these of himself while he was king.

"Long have I desired to look upon the kings of old," said Aragorn in wonder "my kin."

'Aragorn is royalty?' thought Balian in disbelief. The ranger never acted like someone of royal blood. He was a good leader but a descendant of kings? 'It seems that most members of the Fellowship come from important families. I'll be learning that Pippin is the heir of a hobbit lord next.'

"You look surprised," said Legolas with amusement as he rowed past Balian's boat. Balian could only nod. "I was surprised too," continued the elf "when I learnt about his heritage sixty years ago. The time will soon come for him to become who he was born to be."

"You mean Aragorn is going to become King?" asked Balian in a whisper, but Legolas did not answer.

They reached the Falls of Rauros that afternoon, where Aragorn ordered them to make camp and wait for nightfall so that they could cross the river to the eastern shore and continue on foot towards Mordor. Guy was not told of their destination, although he had asked many times. It was only through an unfortunate accident that he learnt about the Ring. Once, when Frodo had been bending over his bedding, the Ring had slipped out into full view. It had dangled tantalizingly in front of Guy, who had immediately been tempted. If Balian had not tackled him and wrestled him to the ground, he would have snatched the Ring from the hobbit's pale thin neck.

Aragorn was forced to give the barest of explanations about the Ring to Guy. The former King of Jerusalem remained undaunted. He cared not if Middle Earth fell to Sauron. The Ring could possibly help him to regain his kingdom that Balian had surrendered. If he needed to ally himself with Sauron, so be it. He could live with that. He voiced his intentions to no one, knowing that they would kill him if they knew of his treacherous thoughts.

Guy was, at the moment, the least of Aragorn's worries. There were orcs on the eastern shore and he needed to find a way to slip past their enemies unnoticed.

Legolas was even more uncomfortable and restless. A sense of foreboding had been growing in his heart for some time now. Something was terribly wrong, he just didn't know what.

"We should leave now," he said urgently.

"No," said Aragorn. "Orcs patrol the eastern shore. We must wait for the cover of darkness."

"It is not the eastern shore that worries me," said Legolas anxiously. "A shadow and a threat have been growing in my mind. Something draws near; I can feel it."

"Where's Frodo?" asked Merry suddenly.

Everyone looked up in alarm. Frodo had disappeared, along with Guy, Boromir and Balian. The three remaining hobbits sprang to their feet and ran into the woods behind them, calling "Frodo! Frodo!" in their high voices. Legolas and Gimli were already gone and Aragorn was busy looking for tracks.

Frodo needed some time to think, alone, away from the others. It wasn't that he didn't like them, it was the exact opposite. He was fond of most of them and did not want his friends to accompany him to certain death in Mordor. He knew what he needed to do, but he was afraid to do it.

A man's voice startled him. "None of us should wander alone," said Boromir lightheartedly, picking up another piece of firewood and adding it to the pile in his arms "you least of all. So much depends on you."

Frodo did not answer. Gandalf and Galadriel had both warned him about Boromir. He did not trust the man.

"Frodo?" asked Boromir. "I know why you seek solitude. You suffer; I see it day by day. Are you sure you do not suffer needlessly?"

Frodo looked up in alarm.

"There are other ways, Frodo," continued Boromir "other paths that we might take."

"Your words would seem like wisdom but for the warning in my heart," said Frodo coldly.

"Warning?" said Boromir in surprise "against what? We're all afraid, but to let that fear drive us to destroy what hope we have left. Don't you see, it's madness!"

"There is no other way!" said Frodo backing away.

"I ask only for the strength to defend my people!" cried Boromir in frustration, throwing down the firewood in his arms. He extended a gloved hand. "If you would lend me the Ring…"

"No!"

"Why do you recoil? I am no thief."

"You are not yourself!"

Unknown to them both, Guy was watching them. Guy de Lusignan was an opportunist, and he knew that this was his chance to claim the Ring for his own. The Ring would give him great power; he could feel it.

Boromir lunged at Frodo, trying to take the Ring from him. He pinned Frodo to the ground and was desperately scrabbling at the hobbit. Guy was about to intervene and thus take the Ring but someone else got there first.

Balian found Boromir and Frodo struggling for the possession of the Ring. He gave shout and without another thought, he pounced on Boromir to try and pull him away from Frodo. In his anger, Boromir was unnaturally strong. With a thrust, he threw Balian against a rock, dazing the blacksmith. He pushed Frodo into the ground, stopping the hobbit from escaping. Balian got to his feet unsteadily and lunged at Boromir again, this time his desperation gave him strength and he managed to pry the Gondorian off the hobbit.

"Run, Frodo!" shouted Balian. "Get help—" He was cut off when Boromir delivered a punishing blow to his head and then unsheathed his sword…

A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers last time! I broke my record! The showdown between Balian and Boromir is taking place. (laughs evilly) Will Guy intervene? Will he help Balian or will he help himself?