The water of the Great River rippled gently, shining like melted silver. Maith shifted so that her bare feet dangled over the sides, skimming the water. For a moment, she could imagine that the world was perfect again, that she was safe. Indeed, it was easy to do so, with the evening sun surrounding the river with lazy warmth and the sky high and blue. Maith allowed the gentle rocking of the boat to lull her closer and closer to sleep…
"What did the Lady give you before we left?"
Maith opened her eyes and sat up; the question had aroused her curiousity. Legolas was looking at Gimli expectantly.
A dreamy look had come over the dwarf's features, "I asked her for a strand of her golden hair," he smiled, "she gave me three."
A smile crept onto Maith's lips, and she again felt warmth towards the dwarf. "Master Dwarf, it seems that you have grown to respect the Elves."
Gimli glanced up indignantly, "of course, lass, since I have known you and Legolas."
"And I have come to respect you," Maith replied, but found it sounded too serious for her taste, "gradually," she added for good measure.
Gimli chuckled and said to Legolas, "the lass can't bear to be serious, can she?"
"At least she is kind, for I have not respected you at all," Legolas replied playfully, and turned to take his place at steering the boat. "Oh, and Maith?" He called over his shoulder.
Maith sat back, and raised a challenging eyebrow.
"You'd better keep your feet out of the water, there are jagged rocks ahead," Legolas said, and smiled as the elleth hurriedly drew her feet back onto the boat. However he could not help but noting that even such a movement for Maith was graceful and poised.
Maith busied herself with collecting wood for the camp, so as to hear the snippets of conversation between the fellowship.
Aragorn and Gimli were discussing the journey ahead, while the hobbits huddled near the fire, where Sam was busy cooking their meal. Legolas and Boromir were no-where to be seen. Maith searched for the wizard momentarily, before realizing with a pang that Gandalf was no longer with them.
She stopped suddenly when she noticed that the light had faded. The trees around her were dense, intimidating, and try as she might, Maith could not sense their presence. She turned, but the fire of their campsite was just a faint glimmer in the falling darkness.
Maith tensed when she heard the sound of footsteps. Instinctively, she moved into the shadows and her hands went to her bow. No, her bow won't do. It would make too much noise. Silently, she drew her sword, back against a tree.
The elleth was still for what seemed like a long time. Slowly-gradually-she could make out the shadow of another close to a tree opposite her. Taking a deep breath, Maith recalled what she had learnt on fighting in the dark, and stepped forward and held her sword in front of her.
The figure came forward as well, making no sound at its movements. But at that moment the moon came out of the clouds and both Elves could see clearly their opponent. Legolas and Maith stood, swords in hand, in defensive stances opposite each other.
Maith's relief was so great that for a moment she did not think. Stepping forward and dropping her sword, she threw her arms around Legolas and hugged him tightly.
Instinctively, Legolas' hands came to her waist. Maith was suddenly aware of what she was doing, but found that she was paralyzed by the feeling of Legolas' breath stirring her hair and his arms lightly encircling her waist. Finally, Legolas stepped back and placed his hands gently on her elbows. "Are you well?"
Maith took a shaky breath, "of course, why would I not be?" She tilted her head, "why did you not recognize me?"
"The same reason you did not recognize me. You hide yourself too well, my lady."
Maith turned her head. That was a stupid question, of which she knew the answer. She did not know why she had asked that. "We should return to the camp," she suggested quietly.
Legolas smiled. "Not before you retrieve your sword from the ground."
As the company passed the great statues of Argonath they heard the clear sound of a raging waterfall. Maith knew that they were at the end of their journey on the river.
"We cross the lake at nightfall. Hide the boats and continue on foot," Aragorn told them as they set up camp. Maith surveyed the group. Boromir was missing again. She frowned; Boromir had seemed very distant the past few days.
"We approach Mordor from the North," Legolas explained.
Gimli seemed to choke on air. "Oh yes? It's just the simple matter of finding our way through Emyn Muil! An impassable labyrinth of razor sharp rocks!"
"And after that it gets even better," Maith prompted, smiling.
"Festering, stinking marshlands, far as the eye can see!" Gimli exclaimed.
"That is our road," Aragorn confirmed, "I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength, Master Dwarf."
"Recover my…?!" the Master Dwarf replied.
"It will be alright," Maith reassured the now wide eyed hobbits.
Gimli huffed. "No dwarf need recover strength! Pay no heed to that, young hobbit."
Merry entered the clearing, dropping an armful of sticks onto the ground. "Where's Frodo?" he asked suddenly.
At those words, Sam shot up anxiously from his spot near the tree, where he was just dozing off. Everyone looked about frantically, but Frodo had indeed disappeared.
"We need to split up and search the forest," Aragorn commanded. He turned to Maith, "go with Legolas that way." He inclined his head to the direction he meant.
Maith nodded slightly and ran off into the woods with Legolas. They searched deeper and deeper into the forest, but they could see no sign of the hobbit. Three sharp blasts echoed through the forest and Maith glanced at Legolas meaningfully. "Boromir's horn," he confirmed.
The elves ran towards the sound, fearing the worst. They had barely arrived before they were surrounded by Uruk-hai, and having no time to draw their bows, used their swords to fight. Frustrated, Maith tried to break through the circle of orcs, but found that they were stronger than she thought-and she wasn't an expert with the sword.
It was not long before they realized that it was too late-whatever trouble Boromir had encountered they could not assist with anymore. They could only hope that the others had reached him already.
As soon as the band of Uruk-hai lay slain, the elves rushed into a clearing where Aragorn was fighting and Maith took the few seconds to sheath her sword and draw her bow instead before they joined in.
Legolas' sword was soon cloaked with orc blood; a murky black liquid which both looked and smelt vile. As the Uruk-hai thudded to the ground, he realized that the battlefield was silent. A few paces away, Maith stared sorrowfully at the bow in her hand, now stained with drops of black. Aragorn was stooping over a figure on the floor.
It was Boromir.