The water was quiet and still the next morning as we boarded small, Elvish boats, cloaks of Lothlorien, a gift from my grandmother, adorning our shoulders. The morning sun was just beginning to come out, ridding our bodies of the chill that came with the night. Aragorn sat with Frodo and Sam, Boromir with Merry and Pippin.
Just as I began to lower my foot into the boat that carried Legolas and Gimli I heard a voice calling my name.
"Rhasslairiel!" Haldir called. I turned to him, frightened of a spectacle in front of all my company... but there was none. Haldir just raised his hand and patted his heart with it. I replied with the same gesture, telling him in our own way that I forgave him and we still stood as friends. Legolas looked from one of us to the other as I sat in front of him, Gimli in front of me, the oars that two of us carried making small splashing swooping noises in the water as we drug them, pushing our boat onward. We were ahead of the others, naturally, who only had one paddle. I could see my grandmother on the bank of the river, raising a silent hand to me. I raised one back.
The day went on slowly, rowing endlessly through the water, first cliffs, then endless forest all around us. I could feel the presence of danger coming near and Legolas and I looked over to the bank, exchanging glances.
We rowed on, through cliffs again. My arms no longer hurt thanks to the substance that Haldir had given me. I was no longer sick. Aragorn knew not to ask me what had happened the night before, for he knew that I wouldnt tell him.
"Rhasslairiel." Speaking of Aragorn, he called to me in a whispered voice, pointing ahead of us. I smiled in awe, my breath in taking.
"The Argonath." I whispered, looking up at the giant statue, towering above us. Our boats would probably only cover the smallest of the statue of King's toes if at all, just to give you an idea. They held their hands out, as if to stop some invisible force... or perhaps they were greeting all who came.
"Long have I desired to look upon the Kings of old." Aragorn whispered. I bowed my head. "My kin..." Boromir was looking up at them in emotional awe...
We passed them, a strange feeling washing over me as we did so and continued through the river until, after we passed the statues we came to a lake. It was enormous and at the end there was a large, dangerous looking waterfall. Slowly, we rowed our boats to the shore, all gathering their things and walking to the rocky sand.
"We cross the lake at nightfall." Aragorn said as I stood by Legolas by a tree, my old cloak shed for a new one from Lorien, as were all the other's, watching Sam make a fire. "Hide the boats and continue on foot. We approach Mordor from the North."
"Oh yes?" Gimli asked, standing up, "Just a simple matter of finding our way through Emyn Muil an impassable labyrinth of razor-sharp rocks and after that, it gets even better. Festering, stinking marshland as far as the eye can see."
"That is our road." Aragorn said evenly.
"We never said it would be simple." I added, throwing another piece of wood to the fire, "I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength, Master Dwarf."
"Recover my " Gimli growled and I smiled, patting him on the back. Legolas and I walked over to Aragorn.
"We should leave now." Legolas said.
"No." Aragorn replied simply, "Orcs patrol the eastern shore. We must wait for cover of darkness." I looked at Legolas.
"You dont feel it do you?" I asked Aragorn, the Man. "It is not the eastern shore that worries us."
"A shadow and a threat has been growing in my mind." Legolas said, "Something draws near. I can feel it." Aragorn looked at Legolas, then at me.
"Where's Frodo?" Merry suddenly asked. I looked up and about.
"Where is Frodo?" I asked... he was nowhere to be seen. Everyone looked around and I turned to Aragorn. "Boromir is gone too." I said and he sighed, taking up his weapons and going out into the forest.
"Stay here with the rest." Aragorn told us and walked up the hill. Legolas and I looked at each other before taking out our bows.
I paused a moment... "Aragorn..." I whispered suddenly, a feeling of warning running through my body. "Merry, Pippin," I told them, "Stay here." And, with a beckon to Legolas and Gimli I ran off into the forest, the light footsteps of Legolas and the heavy ones of Gimli behind me.
We found him.
"Elendil!" I heard Aragorn shout and jump down from the top of a platform of stone, down onto the crowds of orcs that attacked him. He laid on the ground, the knife of an orc being pushed down onto his face. I pulled my arm back and shot the orc that threatened my friend in the head.
"Aragorn! Go!" Legolas cried and our friend left the three of us to fight the orcs, going off to find Frodo, we thought. I fought with my sword, Legolas with his bow and arrows, and Gimli with his ax, the three of us fighting for our safety and the safety of our company.
We made our way through the forest, following Aragorn as we killed orc after orc, any that got in our way. I pulled my sword from the stomach of an orc just as a horn rang out.
"The horn of Gondor." Legolas said. I rested my arm for a moment before rushing off into the forest.
"Boromir!" I cried, hearing my words echo by Aragorn behind me. I weaved through the orcs, killing only when necessary, rushing to Boromir's aid.
"Run! Go! Run!" he cried to the two Hobbits behind him, and I watched as Merry and Pippin ran away, turning around though at a tree. Boromir attacked an orc killing them as they continued to try to kill the Hobbits, I killed as they attacked Boromir.
"I thought you might need some assistance." I said, grinning. Boromir nodded. "Aragorn and the others are coming as well." I told him and he nodded again, too involved in what he was doing to speak.
"Thank you." He said. I smiled, at ease to converse while fighting. I looked up and my smile vanished as I looked to see an orc... not this was no orc... I had heard Gandalf speak of them... Uruk-hai pointing a crossbow at us. I ducked my head just as it was fired.
"Boromir! Duck!" I screamed but it was too late... the arrow that was shot zipped by my head and hit its mark, hitting the Man in the chest. My eyes widened. "No!" I screamed as he fell to his knees and turned, pulling out my arrow and shooting at the one who had shot Boromir... I missed but killed another one of his comrades. A yell made me look back and I saw Boromir stand, sending his sword through an orc, chopping off its head. I screamed as another arrow hit him in the chest, just below his heart by his stomach. He once more tried to fight... only managing to be hit again with another arrow, until he fell to the ground. I stood there, looking at Boromir with sad eyes, all else oblivious to me but the Hobbits being taken away. I struggled to fight through the orcs and retrieve them but there were just too many... I was left on the ground beside Boromir, my head having been hit with a shield, holding it.
Suddenly, the Uruk-hai that had been shooting Boromir stood before the two of us, its crossbow out. I stood up, a little woozily and stood in front of the warrior.
"You will not touch him." I said savagely, holding out my sword. The Uruk-hai pulled back the string to his bow. My eyes widened.
"No!" Aragorn's voice suddenly called out and he flew out of nowhere landing on the Uruk-hai and throwing him to one side. I fell back to the ground, my head dizzy as I watched the... three Aragorn's?... attack the Uruk-hai... I closed my eyes... all I wanted to do was sleep... just rest... just sleep...
"Rhasslairiel." Aragorn put his hand on my forehead and I opened my eyes. He was leaning over Boromir, his hands on the Captain's face.
"They took the little ones!" Boromir cried.
"Hold still." I dragged myself over to Boromir's side, one hand on his face.
"Frodo. Where is Frodo?" Boromir demanded. Aragorn looked at me and back at Boromir.
"I let Frodo go."
"Then you did what I could not." I looked down at the Captain, "I tried to take the Ring from him."
"The Ring is beyond our reach now." Aragorn said. I remained silent.
"Forgive me." Boromir said, blood trickling out the side of his mouth. "I did not see. I have failed you all."
"No, Boromir." I said, "You fought bravely." Aragorn tilted his head down.
"You have kept your honor." Aragorn said. I reached down to take out the arrows.
"Leave it!" Boromir exclaimed, taking my hand and holding it where it stayed. "It is over. The world of Men will fall. And all will come to darkness and my city to ruin." Aragorn looked at Boromir for a moment.
"I do not know what strength is in my blood." Aragorn said, "but I swear to you I will not let the White City fall nor our people fail."
"Our people... our people..." Boromir looked at me, reaching down to his pants and pulling something out of his pocket. "Perhaps it is because you are the only woman of the Fellowship." He said, "But I wish for you to take this..." he held out a dagger, designed with the crest of the White Tree. "And keep it for your protection." I took it from him, nodding through my tearstained eyes. Boromir turned to reach out and grab his sword, Aragorn putting it in his hand as Boromir put it on his chest.
"I would have followed you, my brother." Boromir said, addressing Aragorn. I turned my eyes to Legolas, his face so sad and caring. "My captain... My King!" and with those final words, Boromir of Gondor died.
"Be at peace... son of Gondor." Aragorn said and put his lips onto Boromir's forehead. I backed away from Boromir's body, turning into Legolas's chest, staining his vest with my tears, his arms tight around me.
I found myself in this position again as we watched the boat, carrying Boromir down over the waterfall. I found Legolas a worthy companion if comfort was wanted, caring as he was. I stood away from him with his arm still around my shoulder, arm in arm with my fellow Elf.
Legolas let go of me as we packed our things into bags back where we had taken camp.
"Hurry!" Legolas cried, pushing a boat to the shore. "Frodo and Sam have reached the eastern shore!" he turned around to see Aragorn and I looking at each other. His face dawned with comprehension. "You mean not to follow them."
"Frodo's fate is no longer in our hands." Aragorn mumbled.
"Then it has all been in vain." Gimli said, "The Fellowship has failed." I looked up from my position, my eyes wrinkled.
"No," I said, "Not if we hold true to each other."
"We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment to death. Not while we have strength left. Leave all that can be spared behind." I smiled, exchanging glances with Legolas, who smiled at me, leaving me grinning like a school girl.
"We travel light." I said, dropping the pack with extra clothes that I had down on the ground. "Let us hunt some orc!" Gimli laughed... and I took off into the forest first, out through the forest... and out through the world.
And it seemed that the fate of the world was no longer beyond our reach.