Chapter 9

Not wanting to disturb them Willow silently slithered back in the shadows of the trees. She would rest here for the night and wait for the two men to pass her by in the morning that way she could carry on without them noticing her. Or she could sneak past them when they fell asleep. After spending time with Aragorn she knew one would most likely stay up and keep watch, although she trusted her skills she did not fancy being discovered if she accidently made a noise. Both men had fallen silent; wait where was the other man? Her blood ran cold, feeling something behind her thinking it was the other man she turned around and was faced with a great big beast and an Orc who was riding it. It gave her an evil grin and cried out as he went to strike. Could she not catch a moment's peace?

'NOO!' cried one of the men as Willow fought with the beast. An arrow flew past her ear and right into the heart of the Orc.

Willow brought her knives down hard on the beast's head it staggered forward, and howled as it fell down. She jumped back and started to run but the other man came out and grabbed her.

'Who are you? What is a Lady such as yourself doing out here in the middle of the woods with no protection?' Willow nearly laughed at him, he had no idea who or what she could do. They reminded her of Aragorn when she first met him, and decided she would rather not be tied up again. She replied, 'please let me pass I have no intention on staying here.'

The two men looked at each other wondering what to do, the older one spoke, 'please my Lady, I am Boromir son of Denethor and this is my brother Faramir, we would like it if you would travel with us to Rivendell.'

Willow almost scoffed, 'please I do not require your help, but I thank you for the offer.' Willow walked away wondering if they would follow.

She hoped they didn't for their own safety. It was clear to her they could protect themselves but they would not be able to against her demons, she did not want to invite her demons into someone else's life.

'Go back with them you are needed in Rivendell, they are friends not foes trust they will not look down on you if you accept their help.' Ok I am insane thought Willow, 'You are not insane, you will not endanger them further if you follow them trust me.' A vision flashed through her mind.

It was Aragorn defeating her demons. She somehow felt unsure of herself, was her mind playing tricks, she did miss Aragorn and the Hobbits and Rivendell was sort of like a safe haven, sort of like Swaziland in WW2. She turned her back ignoring the voices in her head and ran swiftly off into the trees. She could here both men chasing after her. she decided to ignore the voice. She turned her head around and found herself alone, but she knew they would soon appear. Willow summersaulted under a large log and waited patiently. Not 5 minutes had past when she heard their voices, 'We cannot leave her alone in these dark times,' Faramir said.

'Aye, what can we do? We must reach Rivendell, and when we do brother we will inform Lord Elrond of the girl.' There was a pause, he sighed, 'We will look for her for a while longer.' They walked on, not noticing Willow.

Willow climbed a tree and tied herself onto it so she would not fall if she happened to fall asleep.

'Why have you tied yourself to the tree?' Willow jumped up screaming and nearly fell out of the tree.

She turned and saw Legolas next to her laughing. Willows eyes turned to ice as she opened her mouth Legolas cut across, 'you will climb down this tree, where I will escort you back to Rivendell. You will not refuse, if you resist I will throw you over my shoulder, and I will bind your hands and legs.' Willow had met her match, Legolas voice was not loud but it was commanding.

She had nowhere to go, her only reason to leave was to make sure no one died because of her. Willow nodded her head and slid down landing on her feet, Legolas landed next to her.

'Walk,' Was all he said, she picked her head up, she would be dammed if this place took away her pride. When she slowed Legolas would be there poking her in the back, when she looked as if she would run, Legolas was there to grab her arm.

'Why did you run?' he casually asked.

'You would not understand.'

'Humour me.' She scoffed at him and continued to walk, knowing it would be foolish to run.

Night came and so did Rivendell. A dozen of Elves swarmed in to rush her and Legolas towards Lord Elrond's office. After a few minutes Aragorn came in and embraced Willow in a hug after making sure she was not hurt he grabbed her not so gently by the arm and pulled her into the office followed by Legolas.

Aragorn was there and he did not look happy, in a low voice he asked, 'Why did you run off? Do you know how worried we have been? What if something bad had happened? You may know how to protect yourself but you do not know your way around? We sent out scouting troops to find you and the Hobbits they blame themselves for your absent. You are lucky Legolas tracked you. Now I suggest you go and find the Hobbits and tell them that you are safe. Then go to your room, I do not want to see you for fear I will say something which I would regret later on.' Willow nodded her head feeling like a young school girl getting caught for skipping class and sadly left feeling something which she could not understand.

She walked back outside not knowing where she would find the Hobbits not paying much attention to her surroundings she walked around hoping to find them soon.