A howl from the distance caught Ed, but he did not stop until he reached Boromir's throat. The man sweated and swallowed hard, but the blade stayed mere millimeters away from his jugular. His face was that of Ed's own, when a serial killer in a butcher shop attacked him. He hated that look- making it never made the alchemist feel brave. That was why his blade had never drawn human blood.

"You thought I was going to kill you. But I'm not going to- that would be a godsend. It would take you away from the guilt you should live with." He drew it away and turned to investigate the howling.

"But-?"

"I'm not a killer." His mind flashed onto Nina's dead form, plastered on the alleyway in blood. "I don't deal out revenge. I live the same way you will- to make amends." He walked away from the scared man.

Once out of eyesight, Ed began to sprint towards the sound of the howl. It was probably more Orcs that were making the noise, and no Orcs present was a good thing. The leaves made the going tough, for his boots kept slipping and sliding as he went down the hillside.

Through the tree line, Ed saw Frodo running next to him further down hill. He moved faster, but heard grunts and animal screams from behind. He guessed it was the Orcs and moved faster. When he lost sight of Frodo, he hid behind a large tree.

"Find the halflings! Find the halflings!" shouted the orc captain.

Ed craned around the trunk to find the Hobbit a few trees away. He was going to call out, but something grabbed his shoulder. He spun and rammed his wrist blade into an Orc soldier.

"Frodo! Frodo!"

"Here, here! Come quick! Come on!"

Ed heard Merry and Pippin call to their friend. Nothing happened for a few seconds, and then Pippin spoke up. "What's he doing?"

"He leaving," answered Merry soberly.

"No!"

Leaves crunched and Ed jerked around. Pippin and Merry were both mere feet from him, Frodo not far beyond that. Merry turned to him, and then shouted to the running troops up the hill.

"Hey! Hey you, over here!"

"Hey!"

"Over here!"

"Look at us!" With that, the duo ran for their lives. Frodo looked sick, but then decided to take action, and run in the opposite direction.

A distraction- that's what they did. They wanted him to get away. He's going to go on alone. Damn him. Ed took off after him.

Ed came up at the edge of the trees to see Frodo standing upon the pale gray shore, staring into the distance, with the Ring on his palm, seemingly merely an unadorned gold band. But he knew that look to well himself. The Hobbit was mourning, but also regretting his decision. Ed had done the same many a time, and knew he would be doing it more in his lifetime.

He stood still and watched Frodo. For a few minutes, he did nothing. But suddenly, as though being shocked, he jerked his head up and began to move. Frodo closed his hand over the Ring, and put it into his vest pocket. He pushed a boat into the river and jumped in.

Just then, Sam emerged from the woods, running right into Ed. They both went down into the sand. Frodo did not acknowledge the noise and continued out into the water to the other bank. Sam looked and saw Frodo paddling away and ran after him.

"Frodo, no! Frodo! Mr. Frodo!" he called loudly. The waters edge was before his Hobbit feet and he watched as Frodo continued to paddle away. Sam ran into the river after Frodo. Frodo, hearing the splashes, looked back.

"Go back, Sam! I'm going to Mordor alone."

"Of course you are, and I'm coming with you!"

"You can't swim! Sam!"

Sam struggled to swim then sank into the water. Ed leapt up from his seat on the sand where he had been watching the two. He could turn the whole river into ice… no, it was too big and he could trap Sam below instead and kill him slower. His alchemy was of no use here, but he had nothing he could do. By the time he swam out there, the Hobbit would be at the bottom and long gone.

"Sam!"

Sam sunk deeper and deeper. He saw the sun shimmering up on the surface. His arm floated limply as he descended into the water.

"No! DAMN IT!" shouted Ed from the shore. He made his way into waist deep water (which wasn't that deep, Ed was sad to admit), but Frodo had stuck his hand into the water and swished around for his close friend. After a few minutes, Frodo pulled him out of the water and up into the boat and Sam tumbled in. Conversation passed between them but they were too far out for Ed to hear a word. Finally, they hugged and began to paddle towards the eastern shore. Ed sat back down and watched the two.

The number of times me and Al did something like that… he thought deeply. The two brothers just up and leaving to pursue some false account of the Philosopher's Stone.

Lost deeply in the memories of Clara, the two-imposter brothers, and his long-gone childhood, Ed barely heard the man call his name.

"Edward! Come and help us," said Aragorn, sounding slightly out of breath.

"Sure." Standing, Ed saw Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn carrying the limp form of Boromir. "What the hell happened? He was alive last I saw!"

"He was shot down by Orcs trying to save Merry and Pippin. He was unable to stop them from being taken. We must send him off for a warrior's burial. Pull over that boat, over here."

Ed complied, pulling the remaining boat up to the shoreline. The three laid the body carefully in the center.

"Pray thee well, Son of the White Tower," said Aragorn. He laid the sword and cloven horn carefully in the makeshift coffin and pushed the boat off into the current. Swiftly, the boat slipped over the Falls of Rauros and then dropped into the mists below. Gimli watched the boat disappear. Aragorn wore Boromir's vambraces in his honor. Ed stood back by the trees, mind spinning. When had Boromir died? How long could it have been before he left him that the life he threatened had ended? Was this his fault?

"Hurry! Frodo and Sam have reached the eastern shore," said Legolas as he pushed the final boat into the water. Aragorn stood still and said nothing in response. Legolas held fast the boats tail and looked at the man. "You mean not to follow them?

"Frodo's fate is no longer in our hands," retorted Aragorn softly.

"Then it has all been in vain!" exclaimed Gimli sadly. "The Fellowship has failed." Ed glanced up at this comment. He knew little of the overall situation, but knew they couldn't fail- no matter the cause.

Aragorn looked up and put his hand on both Legolas and Gimli's shoulders. "Not if we hold true to each other. We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death. Not while we have strength left. Leave all that can be spared behind. We travel light. Let us hunt some Orc!" He turned to the alchemist, a smile on his lips. "Will you join us? Or will you return to your home?"

"I can't get home. Besides, I can't leave you guys now. Your world needs saving," Ed said. "Count me in."

Legolas and Gimli look at each other, grinning.

"Yes! Haha!" Gimli jumped up in joy.

Aragorn ran swiftly into the woods, followed by Gimli and Legolas. Ed brought up the rear, his hand on his dagger and a heavy heart.

"I'll find a way home. I swear I will. And I will not leave you Al. I'll find a way to get you back." He pushed through the trees and went after the three hunters. He had a long way to go, and a lonely road. So far from home.