AN: Can I be the first one to say that I think this has gone a lot better than I thought it would. Seriously, I mean it. And it is all thanks to you guys. Yes, I realise it is cheesy, but it really is. Thank you so much to anyone that is following or has favourited this story- it really means a lot. Also, a big thank you to all of you who review this- you help give me a lot of inspiration to actually write and make me finish on deadlines.
Watery Departures
Darkness; there was nothing but darkness. In the distance, she could hear the ring of metal, something she was becoming more accustomed to here in this medieval world. The most frustrating things about nightmares, is that she moved like an underwater swimmer- not being able to move quickly towards the sound, towards some form of civilisation.
This was not civilisation. Thick tree roots jutted at uncomfortable angles from the earth, like black daggers. The air was thick with grey smoke billowing from huge bonfires that roared and howled in the night. Orcs surrounded them, some working on what looked like armour, others staring at the ground, as if waiting for something to happen or snapping at their fellow monsters. From the greys and blacks of the world around him, a man in an impossible white breezed through, with a commanding air of authority surrounding him. A few of the orcs paused as he passed, though they were quickly punished by their superiors. The man in white was scowling, the Orc by his side trembling in what Rosalie realised was fear.
She watched in horror as the ground began to shake, and a group of orcs arrived. These were different from the ones she fought in Moria; they were bigger, skin a darker shade of grey with sharper fangs and white handprints on their faces. At once, the smaller ors swarmed them; strapping armour to their chests, pulling helmets onto their heads and fastening sharp, crude swords with strange spiked hooks on the end. They stamped their feet in a horrible harmony and howled into the night. The man raised his arms. "Hunt them down!" He shouted over the noise the monsters were making. The man raised the staff above his head, and they quieted down slightly. "Do not stop until they are found! You do not know pain, you do not know fear. You will taste man flesh!" The monsters roared into the night, raising their weapons, flames throwing deadly shadows as they jumped with the monsters. The man turned to a different Orc, one stood nearer to him than the rest of the body of monsters. "One of the half-lings carries something of great value, as does the woman. Bring them to me alive, and unspoiled." The Orc growled and nodded slightly, its dark hair hanging like ropes around its face. The man in white's smirk was cold and blank. "Kill the others."
Rosalie blinked and shook her head slightly, looking around her. The rest of the Fellowship were in various states of consciousness. Something had troubled her last night, a dream that she couldn't remember but left her agitated. Legolas had already come forward, asking if she was okay and she had waved him away, not before smiling at his concern. Today, they were leaving Caras Galadhon, and there was a strange silence as they packed bags and lumbered around the campsite. Rosalie was sad to leave the forest- like Rivendell, or as she now knew the elves called Imladris, it had that unearthly beauty that she craved to see, knowing she would never tire of it.
Rosalie looked down at the small book in her hands. It was leather bound with a strange insignia on the front and was about the size of a pocket diary. She had been told that it was Elvish for rose and she had laughed so hard, Boromir hadn't stopped looking at her weirdly for the past hour. Legolas was oblivious to all, standing alone, still gazing in wonder at his new bow, almost like a child would stare at their newest toy they just got at Christmas. Merry and Pippin had strapped their knives to their belts, while Sam was still holding his rope, looking almost enviously at the pair. Frodo was staring at the water while Aragorn was still speaking with Galadriel.
They were gathered at a small creek in a river, waiting patiently for the last of their group to arrive. Rosalie had a sick feeling at the bottom of her stomach, the moment paralleling the day she left Rivendell almost perfectly. Feet crunched on fallen leaves and Galadriel and Aragorn emerged from a hidden path, the elven lady gliding rather than striding as the ranger did. The dwarf's eyes lit up and he smiled broadly at the Lady of Light, Rosalie pursing her lips to stop from smirking at him. The Hobbits and Boromir had migrated to the edge of the water, piling all of their bags almost precariously.
Why are we even here? Rosalie thought to herself, frowning before craning her head around, realisation washing through her. Unless they're...
It turned out to be true. From around a bend, three little boats floated towards them. They were longboats, like the ones Vikings used, and were that similar shade of silvery grey that the elves seemed to be fond of. They kept sailing until they hit land, and instead of being swept away with the current, they swayed but stayed where they were, as if invisible rope tied them to the ground. Calmly, the man started filling the boats equally, while Pippin and Merry rooted around one of the packs, munching on some treat the elves must've packed for them. Legolas peered at it over their shoulders. "Lembas bread," He commented, making the Hobbits jump, stuffing the bread into their pockets guiltily. "It will be very useful for us. One bite is enough to fill the stomach of a grown man." He informed them, missing the strange face the pair shot at each other. He left after Aragorn called to him and Merry started to giggle while Pippin rubbed his stomach. "How many did you eat?" Merry asked quietly between laughs. Pippin grinned at him, then at Rosalie when he noticed her listening. "Four."
Rosalie had been ushered into a boat with Gimli and Legolas, sitting at the front while Legolas sat at the back to steer the boat while the dwarf sat contentedly in the middle. Tendrils of mist rose from the water, clinging to the boat like ivy clung to walls. As soon as they were ready, the boats moved away from shore without any assistance from the Fellowship. A few elves had wandered down from Lothlórien to wave them off, beautiful faces with blank masks as they watched the Fellowship part. Galadriel joined them for part of the journey; sailing by their side in a large boat shaped like a swan that was encased by that same faint glow she was. Aragorn, Boromir and Legolas paddled their leaf-shaped oars, a gentle silence falling over the Fellowship. Occasionally, the sun peeked around clumps of clouds, beaming down at the group.
She still felt like something was wrong, that something was looming over their heads. She huffed, pushing it to the back of her mind, deciding to do something else. Slowly, she lowered her hand to the river. Cold water glided across her fingertips, miniscule waves breaking and rippling, scattering rainbows across the surface. "What are you doing?" Legolas asked, a half-smile traced on his face while Gimli had raised an eyebrow. Rosalie looked over at him, eyes sparkling. "I've always loved rivers and seas. There is something... soothing about them." She said softly, staring back over at the river. Gimli grinned, "Beginning to sound like an elf, girl." He said, looking at her pointedly. Rosalie smirked and put a hand over her heart. "Oooohhh... Why are you so cruel to me, Gimli?" She shut her mouth abruptedly as her voice came out a lot more whingy than she wanted it too. Gimli was almost in hysterics, getting a few glances from the other boats while the pout the elf had originally adopted had melted into a heart-breaking smile.
As they progressed, something hard poked Rosalie's shoulder. She jolted forward, before jerk her head at whoever had hit her. Sam shifted his head, trying to point discreetly at Aragorn before the ranger spoke up. "Long have I desired to look upon the kings of old... my kin..." he sounded almost dreamy as he stared upwards and the girl followed his view. She thought her mouth drop but she didn't feel it. Two men stood in stone, towering in the sky, hands raised to halt intruders. From the one on the right's chin, a grey beard tumbled over robes, the rest of his head protected by a helmet while a sword rested in his over hand. His partner looked younger than he was, his free hand gripping the mountainside, as if he was preparing to lift it and throw it. Rosalie guessed her mouth was still open as someone in another boat chuckled. She stared at Boromir, that chuckle still on his face. "It's taller than the rest of the cliff." She said and he nodded simply. "Yes, it is." He said calmly and slowly, as if she was actually a three year old. "But, but, but... how?" She stuttered before shaking her head, craning her head to continue staring as they passed. Legolas smiled at her antics. "They are one of the many wonders you will get to see here." Rosalie just stared, wide-eyed and smiled at him.
The river became rougher, the waters rising and falling faster, the current pulling at the boat with rabid fingers. Ahead, Rosalie could hear the roaring sounds of a waterfall and her heart clenched as the men threw weight behind the oars, trying to force the boats to veer to the side. They ran into a pebbled shore, and the girl jumped out, helping to drag the boats away from the river. Sam and Rosalie set up a fire, as Merry and Boromir left to find wood and the others unloaded their small vessels. It cracked and flickered orange with life, grey smoke wafting upwards lazily as Aragorn took charge. "We cross the lake at nightfall. Hide the boats and continue on foot." He set down a few blankets. "We approach Mordor from the North."
Gimli grunted and turned angrily to the ranger. "Oh yes? Just a simple matter of finding our way through an impassable labyrinth of razor sharp rocks?" His voice took a bitter, sarcastic turn. At his side, Pippin hung onto his every word. "And after that, it gets even better! Festering, stinking marshland as far as the eye can see." Both the girl and the Hobbit gulped and shivered at Gimli's biting words. Aragorn stopped him hastily. "That is our road. I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength, Master Dwarf." Gimli spluttered at his words and grumbled under his breath as Rosalie couldn't hide her smirk. "Oooooh, burn," She murmured under her breath and Aragorn turned to her, understanding the meaning if not the words. He raised his eyebrows and grinned like a fox, his back turned to the dwarf.
She smiled up at him, but it didn't reach her eyes and she got up, walking over to where the elf stood, staring at the shore. His head tilted to the side as she approached but his eyes remained fixed on the tree line. "Was he telling the truth?" Rosalie whispered, looking up at the elf. Legolas let out a breath and turned to her. His silence gave her his answer. "That bad, huh?" Her pathetic attempts at humour weren't lost on him and he sighed again. "They both were- you should try to sleep." He eventually settled on and Rosalie laughed weakly. "I don't think I'm sleeping anytime soon."
The elf suddenly jumped, striding over to Aragorn and the girl followed. "We should leave now." Legolas hissed at the ranger as she approached. Aragorn shook his head. "No. Orcs patrol the eastern shore. We must wait for the cover of darkness." Legolas looked back over the forest. "It is not the Eastern Shore that worries me. A shadow under threat has been growing in my mind. Something draws near. I can feel it." Aragorn opened his mouth to reply, shuffling his feet slightly when Merry's voice carried out from beside the fire pit. "Where's Frodo?"
They all exchanged a look before Aragorn bounded into the forest, Legolas and Gimli not far behind him. Rosalie, Merry and Pippin ran after him, Sam chasing after them. Branches broke, leaves crunched and all she could hear was panting- whether it was hers or a Hobbit's she wasn't always sure. The sound of metal clashing echoed through the trees and Rosalie urged herself to run faster. Pippin yanked her hand. "Found him!" He half-whispered, before suddenly dragging her under a fallen log. Around them, the creatures from her nightmares ran, armed with the same cruel weapons, skin darker in the light of day. He motioned with his hand, pausing when Frodo didn't move. "What's he doing?" He asked and Merry replied. "He's leaving." Rosalie frowned at the pair, making eye contact with Frodo. "Get your butt over here now!" She hissed, and he shrank back into the tree he was hiding behind. Pippin jumped out from their hiding place with a cry before Rosalie had a chance to grab him. Merry caught him but not before the Orcs saw them. They shared a brief glance before the Hobbits started to jump up and down. "Hey! Over here!" They called and one of the monsters roared. Rosalie ran forward, grabbing the backs of their cloaks and tugging them into running, the Orcs chasing them instead of Frodo.
"Why the hell did you piss them off?" The girl almost bellowed at Pippin. "It's working!" As he watched them follow. "We noticed!" Merry and Rosalie said together. They darted and weaved through the trees, thankful for the small advantage their nimbleness brought compared to the giant Orcs. Super Orcs... FOCUS! Her brain shouted at her. In front of her, Merry and Pippin grinded to a halt, monsters climbing out from foliage ahead of them and she cursed under her breath. She drew her knives, moving into a fighting stance, backs to the Hobbits. She threw one, her aim true as it buried itself into an Orc's chest, the body falling to the forest floor. The rest didn't notice or care for their fallen, still focused on its prey.
A familiar hand shot out, throwing an Orc backwards before it could swing at Pippin. The man of Gondor bared his teeth, flexing his fingers around his sword. Another came behind him and Rosalie threw her other knife, this time nailing it in the eye socket of its helmet. Darts? Who would've thoug- FOCUS FOR GOD'S SAKE!
Rosalie took out her sword, jabbing it into another Orc, flinching slightly when it howled. She stabbed it again and ducked as another stepped forward, challenging her. She lost sight of the others for a few seconds, focused on the enemies. A horn sounded out, making Rosalie jump before realising it was Boromir's. They started backing away; running in what could've been the direction of friends. An Orc emerged from around a tree trunk and Pippin flung himself at it, causing it to tumble to the ground. More growls echoed and Rosalie ducked again, feeling a blade barely missing her face. She slashed in a wide arc, her sword connecting with body, blood dripping from it onto the ground, the handle and her. More orcs appeared and Rosalie started to lose count, all of them becoming one black mass of death.
Boromir shoved her backwards with the Hobbits. "Run!" He shouted, catching another sword with his own. "Quick!" Rosalie moved away, killing ones that came too close to her or the Hobbits. Boromir gave them a wide berth to use. More orcs joined the fray, as if they were never- ending. Rosalie looked up at the opposite hill. She froze. There stood the Orc from her dreams, white handprint on his face, emboldened by his dark skin. He growled, baring pointed teeth. She shivered. He raised a bow and took aim. The colour drained from her face. "Boromir, look out!" She screamed and the man turned at her voice. He jerked and there went silent. Pippin and Merry stopped throwing stones. Some of the Orcs lowered their weapons.
A black arrow protruded from just above his heart, jet black fletching slick like oil. He gasped and someone screamed, probably Rosalie herself. He fell forward onto his knees and another Orc came to finish him off. He didn't stand a chance to the girl with the elven sword. She tried to take the Gondorian man's place, slashing and hacking at the Orcs. Behind her, she didn't see Boromir stand back up, only that his sword lashed out at a monster that came too close for comfort. The same Orc struck him again, this time lower down and Rosalie almost seized up with fear. Even she knew he wouldn't survive that. He fell backwards, crumpling like paper, staring up almost in surprise to his companions.
Rosalie's throat closed up, her heart pumping faster than the adrenaline ever pushed it. She screamed again and for a moment, it seemed as if the monsters were frozen and the blood slowly seeping into the man's clothes retracted. With a yell, the man rose again and Rosalie joined him, helping to batter and push the Orc army away. She kept swinging, even after her arms felt like lead. For a third time, she heard the swish of bowstrings and a groan. In horror, the man dropped for a third time, this time, staying on his knees. Rosalie let out a scream and the ground seemed to tremble, a few monsters knocked off balance. Tears ran down her face, dirt washed away, her hand shaking from her exhaustion and her emotions. She impaled an Orc feet from her face, feeling it's dank, retched breath on her face. She tried to pull her sword free, fear spiking her heart when it wouldn't move. She tugged again, pulling with all her might, not noticing the Orc behind.
Something swung. Rosalie gasped, falling forward, black spots floating in front of her eyes, her head exploding in pain. She heard someone moan faintly and Merry and Pippin yelled again. She felt dizzy. She thought she felt someone grab her, hauling her onto her feet before picking her up roughly. Pippin was still screaming. Everything felt kinda cold, and everything looked a little darker than before.
They were surveying the aftermath. Boromir had been given every honour he deserved and could get from the trio as his boat sailed over the edge of the waterfall. Most of their belongings had gone with him but a few treasured items had been kept. They couldn't protect Frodo anymore- that was Sam's job now. Merry, Pippin and Rosalie had been taken, and they intended to get their friends back. Legolas looked down at his hands, twisting a small silver blade between his fingers. Aragorn patted his shoulder comfortingly. "We will find them," He promised his friend and the elf smiled weakly. "We have to," The elf's murmur added onto Aragorn's statement and they both looked over at the lake before running. Running for their friends, their companions and their family.