The Protector in the Shadow
*Thanks everyone for the reviews! Again I apologize once more for the horrible grammar and the spelling errors. The girl who used to be my proof reader is currently down and out, and won't be coming back for quite some time. She actually just had a baby, so I can't expect her to simply drop everything to come back and edit for me. Though if anyone is interested in replacing her and editing my work I'm more than open to the prospect. Simply PM me and we'll discuss details for this story, or my other story. I always picture things in the future of what I want to happen, and it's always so annoying because I want to rush and get there. But I can't. Anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter! - Ze*
Disclaimer: Blah…. –headdesk- I don't own it.
*Past*
*Present*
Chapter Nineteen: Life or Death
Ava wasn't sure she had ever run that swiftly in her whole existence. She felt the trees and the wind rustle her dark pelt with a breath of warning. Even the mute trees knew her quest. Her talons dug deeper into the ground the faster she propelled herself forward feasting on the breath that escaped the forest, her eyes were searching almost as violently as her nostrils were. Fallowing the scent of Frodo, but not liking how it was almost step for step joined with Boromir's husky scent. She couldn't interfere much, but she could save Frodo from his fate. She would not see the world fall into shadow and mist with not so much as a brush of her tail. Oh sure she could survive the darkness that would fall, she could take the bitter truth and reality of it all. She would shroud herself in shadow, and never be seen as an Elf again. Without Gandalf she had no chance to be found, not unless one of her old friends lived long enough to see her to safety.
She was hardly panting, but her heart was racing, calls from the fellowship fell to deaf ears. They soon lost her almost invisible tracks in less than three minutes. She finally slowed, seeing that Frodo was still alone, she attempted to tap into his mind, but her erratic thoughts posed it difficult. "Frodo," she called to him curtly slithering like a shadow from the woods. The hobbit turned to see her and smiled at her form, but the serious expression on her face made the smile vanish. She was upon him in seconds staring directly into his eyes. "He's coming for it, my love," she whispered the words quietly, in case he was near.
Looking around as a twig snapped. She bound up, leaping onto one of the ruins. Frodo went to speak but was cut off, "Silence, he comes. Things must be said, I will protect you when my time comes. When I warn you, run with all your heart little hobbit, and do not look back." She warned coolly as she climbed higher on the broken face of a once tall statue. Her mind ran wild in its own confines.
"None of us should wander alone," Boromir's voice finally caught the air, instantly cooling the world around the hobbit, and sending a chilling shiver up her spine. Yet she did not whimper, she was far too worried he would catch wind of her, "you least of all. So much depends on you," His eyes seemed to glaze, though she could not see, she could hear the hollowness in his speech. "Frodo?" his voice faded into question as the silence took over the small area. Lyavain stalked over the cool slick marble like nothing, her talons hardly making a sound on the marble. She was circling around so she was above Boromir, who stood open for attack. Boromir picked up branches and twigs for fire in attempt to calm his conniving mind.
His eyes were blackened with an enlarged pupil, there was almost nothing human about his stare. It was cold and horrifying, she found herself shivering at the thought of it alone. Frodo seemed strangely strong, though by the whispers he pushed around in his mind she knew he was unsteady. She was glad he had created the front she found an odd strength growing in the pits of her beings. If she did not go at the right time, it would be too late. She would not let her master die, not in a graceless place like this. "I know why you seek solitude. You suffer; I see it day by day." He whispered looking aside with a small smirk, though hidden; Lyavain could hear the lies hidden within his voice, "You sure you do not suffer needlessly?" he stood straight taking a few breaths and looking around with a sickening slimy smile across his face. "There are other ways, Frodo, other paths that we might take." He was attempting to talk Frodo into a path that had been denied since the beginning.
"I know what you would say." Frodo mused lightly, his eyes that once had been trained on the ground before they grazed up with almost rage hidden in the cool depths of his pools, "And it would seem like wisdom but for the warning in my heart." Frodo had meant well, but it only seemed to anger Boromir, who had already been moody and irrational to begin with.
Boromir did snap, against Frodo's hopes, and a memory played in her mind as she watched it unfold just as she had many times before. The movements, the anger and acting in the voice which seemed to ring deeper than she could have hoped. That voice seemed to get louder as he took a step toward her master, "Warning? Against what?" He snapped with a glare that seethed through all the way down to his eyes. Those blackened soulless masses imprinted into his skull. He bit back his anger, holding his head high while looking at the hobbit that had started to slowly step back, unnoticed baby steps seemed to go wildly out of hand. Maybe he should have just stood and accepted his fate. Lyavain had snarled inwardly at this thought, not even Boromir himself deserved the way Frodo would be gutted Fëa the hero did not step in. "We're all afraid, Frodo. But to let that fear drive us to destroy what hope we have…don't you see, that is madness?" He kept attempting to make it seem right like it was as easy as Boromir, the mindless creature, had made it out to be. It was far from that easy, if that fear didn't drive them, it would only be a matter of moments before the dark lord devoured any amount of good left in the world.
"There is no other way!" Frodo exclaimed almost snapping as Boromir himself had. The man still understood nothing. The council of Elrond had clearly not made an impact on his mind.
"I ask only for the strength to defend my people!" he snarled as he threw down the large pile of gathered wood. The angered expression on his face was horrifying, she could tell by the faltered expression on Frodo's face that he was becoming more and more doubtful of his survival. Boromir seemed to become more despite, and soon stood straight, hesitating once again, "If you would but lend me the Ring!" he squawked outstretching his hand as if he expected Frodo to simply say "fine" and hand it over.
Frodo instead flinched back, starting to back away again "No."
Boromir seemed to fume the moment that n word escaped his lips. Lyavain was about ready to leap but she wanted to warn, she wanted to look into the wild eyes of Frodo once more. Her heart thundered in her chest. "Why do you recoil? I am no thief." Boromir stepped quickly to cover the ground that Frodo had cowered back. She was frightened for her brother, for Frodo, her close friend, and her savior. Boromir kept moving closer, but Frodo kept moving back.
"Frodo, I love you." Lyavain started, as she began to move closer toward the edge of the pillar she was now perched atop. Her mind was far from sound, and her mental sanity was starting to fade. "Long will the days be before we will lay eyes on each other again." She said quietly, to his mind. She watched as he stilled for a moment before moving back again. "I will protect you from a far. Be careful Frodo, and be ready to run." She said with a soft snarl. Her body started tracing the way she had come.
Frodo started moving again, "You are not yourself." Frodo started moving backwards again. Not pleased with the situation at hand.
"What chance do you think you have? They will find you! They will take the Ring and you will beg for death before the end!" Boromir snarled stepping towards him again, threatening him, his hand even reached for the hilt of the sword tied gracefully to his hip. Frodo pivoted and turned, starting to walk away at a fast pace, but when Boromir noticed his attempt to escape it was like anything human about him had vanished. He seemed to pant like a beast growling in the depths of his being. So this is what a normal human looked like? This is what the reason the ring even survived looked like. Even the Steward was completely possessed, "You fool!" he roared suddenly going after Frodo, she knew what was next. Her body crouched hotly and her muscles bunched. Boromir leaped and tackled Frodo almost effortlessly to the ground. God with a beastly large frame like Boromir's you could take down almost anything with your body weight alone. "It is not yours, save by unhappy chance. It could have been mine!" He howled as they rolled. For a moment Frodo broke free and popped up.
"Frodo put the ring on and run! Do not look back. Ever!" She growled as she launched into the air watching the leaves crunch where the now invisible Frodo had gone. Lyavain would accept the Hobbit's fate for him. She would accept the gruesome death if that was what the Valar desired. She landed in the spot Frodo had been at one time and slinked to face her foe. She was slightly nervous because of what had happened last time they had come together in battle.
She snarled violently at Boromir. Watching as his expression turned from bad to worse right before her eyes, the pelt on her back raised higher than it would even normally, and her hackles were practically on end. Boromir moved first, he always took rash decision. Lyavain tried to dodge him, but the power of the ring gave him strength, the shadow whispered ideas into his dense skull. He was speaking in the black speech now, and she could understand every word that escaped his mouth as they fought. Rolling in the dirt, hardly ever gaining ground over the other. Though now she was on the bottom, Boromir's hands wrapped around her throat as if to strangle her as a human. "I see your mind. You will take the Ring to Sauron! You will betray us! You'll go to your death and the death of us all! Curse you! Curse you! And all the Halflings!" His sword soon came into the mix as he held it over her thick graceful neck. She snarled a violently cold snarl. The sword hanging over her neck. But the blade had distracted Boromir in a way which she could use to her advantage. Her neck craned around his hand and her fangs snapped at the creature's face.
Though she could feel the blackness coming over her, from what she now knew to be lack of oxygen. She knew her instincts were starting to take over. She could feel the shadow drop itself onto her back like a cloak, and she did not hesitate to accept the darkness. It would protect her, and by god it did.
New strength was found her body moved on its own. She herself was shocked at the sudden change in hers body. The violence of her barks and snarls, they struggled for power. Neither of them finding it in each other. The first thing Ava remembered as she stood hovering over Boromir was her gang's pierced harshly into his throat. Not yet doing any damage, but still drawling blood from their sharpness alone. The bunching in her jaw showed her that she wanted to closer her mouth and end the irritating life for Boromir of Gondor, but something told her that was not what she was to do. "NO!" She snarled to herself seeing the human sorrow that returned to Boromir's eyes. Soon showing he was returning to normal. Her strong jaws slowly moved away as she backed from his stead.
"I will spare you Boromir. Never once have I met the true you. I will not hate you for something you could not prevent." She said gracelessly. Stepping back even further from the creature who stared at her grace in shock. Her mercy must have been unexpected in both the mind and unprepared body of the man. "We have business Boromir, hurry." She hissed not expecting him to rise as soon as he did. They both charged into motion with a new and very odd understanding. They ran forth with all intentions of shadow left behind, and nothing stopping their power.
"Beast! Look there!" He cooed pointing at a flock of Uruk-hai heading towards one particular spot like wolves to an easy kill. Though offended by being called beast she didn't say a single word. Only moved faster than before to head after the creatures which were flocking. She had expected her speed to leave the creature in the dust, but he caught up quickly and exceeds past her in a fit of running. "Watch my back! I see they go after the hobbits!" Boromir cried launching himself over some rocks and charging over a small bridge. He looked gallant when he ran, so powerful it almost made her regret considering him weak this entire time. She fallowed only half way as she started to slaughter the much stronger beasts. Wretch of Saruman, bastards of birth. Creatures of darkness far worse than any orc or goblin. She had battled them before, long before any of them had become the bane of the white wizard.
She had been so distracted that it was only after the sharp intake of breath did she notice what had happen. The cool grunt that escaped the mouth of Boromir distracted her long enough to ignore the coming of a Uruk and get harshly struck into. She ignored the pain as she always did, thinking it was nothing more than a scratch, and yet almost knowing that it would scar. She had turned to see the arrow sticking from Boromir's chest with a start, never before has she laid eyes on a human with so many arrows sticking from their body. She had run to protect Merry and Pippin in his stead, but had been blocked but an entire league of Uruk-hai. She watched in horror as she failed them. She fought to go after them but the thought of Boromir made her stop.
She turned and charged toward him, rushing past the group of Uruk, ignoring everything except the creature. The one creature whom before she could not have cared less about. To the creature who had tried to take her life on more than one occasion. The man she should have hated more than anything, yet she respected for how valiantly he had fought. They were connected now, and even though it was short lived, even though she would never admit it. During their time in the fellowship even at odds with one another did she feel a connection. Boromir hadn't been himself, and she was sure that if he had been, they would have made fine companions during this journey.
"Boromir!" she called worriedly as she reached his side, only half noticing that Aragorn was not fighting the beast that had mortally wounded the creature on the ground before her.
A moment of silence came over them both, as Boromir stretched his hand to weakly caress her dark, slightly blood soaked cheek. "I seem to have," he paused, breathing deep breaths in attempt to calm his erratic thinking, "I seem to have misjudged you," he called, trembling a quiet tremble. His eyes were wide with fear and his mind was clearly going insane. "I, I am sorry for treating you in such contemp." He said with a soft cough looking around for something to see. To take his mind off of the pain that rocketed up and around his body.
"I do not blame you, 'tis normal for one to fear or dislike something they do not understand. You were not yourself Boromir. I hold nothing against you." The expression on Ava's face was serious, but extremely sincere, she meant every word that she had said, and she did not any longer dislike him. Perhaps it was the same in her case, she had feared and disliked for something that she did not understand. She didn't understand why he could not grasp the fact that they had to destroy the ring. She couldn't grasp why he treated Frodo the way he did in all of her visions. She had feared him for the way he had treated her, and she was always seeming to not understand his actions. She was just as bad as he himself. They were non different.,
A smile graced his now bloodied lips, his eyes locking with hers. Hiding something much more important than he let on. "I never disliked you." He said quietly still gently touching her cheek. "I admit I did detest you for a while, but never had I felt the longing in my chest so. Even in beast form you bewitched me." His words were surprisingly strong, even though she could see the many worry lines creased between his brows. Boromir pulled her maw closer to his face and moved his lips toward her ear. "I have always loved you Fëa." He whispered quietly into her ear with much hesitation. "The wolf that danced through the stories my mother told me… I always knew she was you. But everyone knows the fate of the wolf. It 'twas not I who she will fall in love with," He paused after a moment taking notice to Aragorn who had started to approach, "I am a fleeting spirit, soon to fade from this earth," he said allowing her to pull back to look at the tear that gently fell from his eyes. "To weak am, to hold to love of an eternal spirit." He admitted with a small fleeting expression. Her wolven lips graced his forehead with a kiss. Promising never to forget him. He gave her no time to reply but simply said, "I wish for you not to see me die, Fëa. Please."
She did as he asked, she turned so quickly she he would not see the tear that slipped from her eye in the most human manner. She did not want him to see her weak, but never before had a man admitted a fancy in such a way. His dying breath made her heart sink, she hardly listened to the conversation between the King, and his Steward's son. She wasn't sure she could have even if she tried. She simply stood lifelessly, facing away from Boromir between Gimli and Legolas. Not helping the tremble that escaped her body as she heard that final long breath escape his lips. Her head threw back and a cold shrill, bone chilling howl erupted from the chasm in her chest. It vibrated through her being, and perhaps climbed far past the expectation of the woods. She had lost someone she hadn't realized was dear to her.
And she hated herself for it.
* It was longer than I expected! So I'm pretty happy with this chapter. Again with the proof reader, if anyone is interested and has a schedule that works sort of with mine. I would love to have you help. Just let me know, and if you're not interested then that's fine too! R&R if you thought the confession from Boromir was a bit depressing, because I sure did, and I hadn't intended to write it out. But I'm glad I did! Don't forget to vote, and I'll be posting a poll for this story soon so watch out for it! Thanks guys! Tata! - Ze*