A/N: I always love reading reviews! It makes me so happy. Okay so, I'm sorry..not sorry for the way the last chapter left off- Sorry for taking so long to update and not sorry about the way the chapter ended it was just too irresistible! That being said hopefully you enjoy certain bits of this chapter *wink wink* annnnnnd continued to Review! Please and Thank you! Enjoy! :)


~Chapter Twelve~

Rosa wasn't sure how she ended up standing there with ice cold water dripping down her back but vaguely remembered her previous thoughts of bathing. While she was staring at the shirtless man in front of her, her mind screamed to do anything but just stand there and stare. She had a nearly uncontrollable urge to dive back under the water and count to infinity but instead her eyes perused their way down his chest. Oh hot damn. His well-toned chest, arms, abs, the longer Rosa stood there the more she found there was to like.

Boromir sucked in a breath his eyes traveling from the top of her face, flushed red with slightly parted lips, over to her hair that flowed freely down her back, different from its usual place in a tight bun. As his eyes grazed over her shoulders and down slightly past her collar bone he clenched his belt tightly in his hands, forcing his gaze back up to her eyes...her shockingly bright blue eyes.

"I-

They spoke at the same time, both unsure what they were going to say and both settling with turning their backs to the other. Rosa found that the silence was far more unsettling than situation itself. She hadn't held an actual conversation with him in the past week and certainly didn't know what to say now.

As much as not saying anything would be much easier she found that standing waist deep in the river was getting uncomfortable, the water being too cold to handle. Luckily she was spared from saying anything when Boromir took a rather loud shuddering breath before saying, "I-I did not see anything. I-

"Boromir it's..." What was it? Fine? No no no...not fine. Awkward? Yes, extremely awkward. What do I even say? 'Oh it's no problem...you're really hot anyway so at least the view is great' ugh...god this is embarrassing. And cold. Very cold.

"I'll just go.."

Rosa heard the sound of his belt once more and then the familiar crunch of leaves. Despite her body's protest Rosa sank beneath the water, letting it chill her body's rising temperature. Instead of taking the time to brush out her hair as she usually did, Rosa just dried off and pulled her hair back up before returning to the others. She pulled on a loose pair of trousers and pulled a shirt over her tank top, tucking the edges into her pants.

As the others gathered supplies and prepared to leave the next day, Rosa made her way towards the usual training area, but instead of Boromir she found herself standing across from Aragorn.

"Where's Boromir?"

Aragorn gave a shrug, "Claims he is busy. Are you ready?"

Thinking back to the events earlier that morning Rosa wasn't surprised that Boromir didn't want to see her. She nodded to Aragorn and picked up her sword.

Practice that day took twice as long as usual and Rosa was drenched in sweat by the end but she had managed to land a few blows against Aragorn and even disarm him once.

"You've improved greatly," he said with a slight smile.

"You bet your finely shaped butt, I have. Boromir worked me to the bone, plus I'm a fast learner."

Rosa wasn't sure which was better, the fact that Aragorn was giving her a compliment or that she had managed to make him blush with her comment. Laughing she put her sword away and got ready for her archery lesson. The hours of the day passed faster than Rosa wanted them to, but she had managed to keep herself busy the whole day. She had her final lesson with Haldir and then they talked for hours, after that she spoke to the hobbits who, though in a slightly better mood than when they had arrived, were not looking forward to leaving the safety of the forest. Truth be told neither was she. It was easy to forget how close to death they had been a month ago and she still did not know what her visit from Melkor meant.

In her time there she had spoken only to Galadriel about what had occurred during her first night there.

~Two weeks earlier~

"Haldir?"

Haldir spun around to see Rosa chasing after him, he watched with a half-smile as she darted around the roots and rocks in her path with more grace than most humans...yet still not quite the level that most elves emanated. He wondered if she were truly half elf as the whisperings said. He had never seen or heard of her until the day she, and the rest of the fellowship, arrived in the forest so he was skeptical. She was a very interesting person to say the least.

He could see her hair falling from its bun as it bounced with each step she took. He was surprised to see that she was not winded as she continued running towards him.

"Yes?" he asked when she fell into step beside him.

Her eyes darted from him to ahead and then down to her feet. "Alright. So you remember that night that you found me in the woods?"

"Yes," he stated unemotionally despite his peeked curiosity.

"Right. Well, I need to know something. How does one go about...getting an audience?...with Galadriel. She seems to be all knowing," or whatever, "and I was hoping to speak with her about...something."

Haldir chuckled, much to Rosa's surprise, and gave her a full smile. She may be beautiful and quite a bit more graceful than most but one thing she certainly wasn't graceful with...was her words.

"Khila amin." (Follow me.)

Rosa followed silently behind Haldir as he lead her back up to the place he had taken them their first night there. She was just as amazed by the sights around her as she was the first time. Even in the sunlight everything was majestic and had the glow of starlight. She tried to contain her nervousness as they climbed the steps, higher and higher. When Haldir motioned for her to wait there she tried to focus on anything but how far the ground was from her. In the end there wasn't much to look at that didn't lead her thoughts back to her fear of heights. She ended up studying the intricate braids of one of the guards that stood a few feet from her. She had never seen such braids before and was so focused on it that she jumped when Haldir's hand gently squeezed her shoulder.

"Holy hell, don't ever do that again!"

"My apologies. She will speak with you." Haldir placed a hand on her back and gave her a soft push forward, when Rosa didn't move.

Rosa took a few more hesitant steps forward. She didn't think she would get this far, especially not this quickly. She figured Galadriel would be busy or something. Taking a calming breath Rosa strode forward until she found herself face to face with Galadriel, well not exactly face to face, Galadriel was taller.

"Hi..." Rosa groaned internally, hi...really? I am such an idiot.

"I, ahem, I was hoping to speak to you about something.."

Galadriel turned towards her, "You wish to speak of the night you were lost in the woods."

"...yes..how-

"How did I know?" Galadriel's lips twitched into the slightest smile, a knowing smile. As the smile faded, Galadriel looked directly into Rosa's eyes, her gaze so intense that Rosa wanted to flinch away.

"Tell me child, What did Melkor say to you?"

Rosa's mouth dropped open for a moment, before she snapped it shut, "I..wha-what?! You..you knew he was here?"

Galadriel only nodded. Rosa felt like the world was spinning again as she rehashed the events of that night that had shook her to the core. Rosa didn't know what to believe and as her story came to an end she looked up into Galadriel's piercing gaze once more.

"What am I?" she asked Galadriel. The real Galadriel.

~Present~

Haldir was jogging towards her when she finally emerged from both her memories and the training area. He gave her a small smile, "I want to show you something."

Rosa raised her eyebrow at him but followed. The walk was much further than expected but Rosa found herself entertained by watching Haldir's excitement, it wasn't often that he would show so much emotion. Just as it was with all elves.

Once they reached their destination Haldir surprised her again, "Close your eyes."

"You want me to..Why?"

Haldir sighed.

"Alright, alright." Rosa closed her eyes and waited patiently, trying not to jump when she felt Haldir's hands touch her own. He lifted them up, palm forward and after a moment she felt the warmth of his hand retreat and something solid was placed there instead.

"Pantar lle eleer." (Open your eyes.)

Rosa opened her eyes and looked into Haldir's searching for some sign of emotion but his face was void. She then looked down to see what she held in her hand. Rosa gasped. She didn't even realize that she had lost it.

"My necklace?"

Haldir nodded, "ar' sina," (and this) he pulled a bag from behind his back, "but you must not open it until you've left."

Rosa smiled at him and nodded, "Will you?" she gestured to the necklace.

"Oh...yes, of course."

Haldir moved swiftly behind her, taking the necklace in his hands. After clasping it he gently laid it on the back of her neck making sure no stray hairs got caught in the chain.

"There, vanima," (beautiful) he said as he took a step to stand in front of her again.

Rosa smiled and looked down and the pendant. It was beautiful, yet simple. It was a clear crystal that hung from a silver chain that wrapped around the crystal.

"It is beautiful."

Haldir's lips twitched in amusement, "Amin quena en' lle." (I was speaking of you.)

"Oh...well," Rosa tried not to laugh at the compliment she was sure that she looked horrible, her hair falling from its bun, sweat covering her from her practice, "diola lle." (Thank you.)

"Come, I must return you to the others. It is not long before you depart from this place."

He held his hand out to her and after a moments pause she took it and let him help her back down the path. They returned to the others in a content silence, though both were feeling a little sad about her leaving, they put on smiles for the farewell feast and tried their best to liven the mood.


Rosa had watched calmly as Galadriel gave her gifts to each member of the fellowship. She didn't expect to get anything herself and quite frankly was intimidated by Galadriel's piercing gaze and didn't think she wanted to have any one on one time with it.

Rosa.

Rosa looked up to see Galadriel standing before her.

I have a special gift for you.

Rosa gulped, in want she hoped was a discrete manner.

You wish to know who you are, 'what' you are. You have many questions, not all of which I can answer. However, I do hope that this will ease your mind a little.

Galadriel handed her a small satchel, it was white in color and had silver and blue embroidery. Rosa smiled at the gift, all the while wondering how she was going to carry all of these bags that people kept giving her.

After all the gifts had been given, they said their farewells and Haldir, along with a few other guards, led the fellowship away from the heart of the forest and out to an opening near the river. While the others loaded the new supplies that Celeborn had given them onto the boat, Rosa shifted through her belongings safely tucking the items into one larger bag and placing the satchel next to that bag on a boat. She figured that she could have made everything take up less room if she were allowed to open her gift from Haldir but she promised she wouldn't open it until after she left. So she climbed into the boat with a bag twice as big as the others, except for maybe Sam's bag. Rosa sighed and tried to find a comfortable position to sit on the boat as she watched Boromir climb into a different boat with a frown.

When all was said and done Rosa sat on a boat with Gimli and Legolas, while Aragorn, Frodo and Sam were seated in one and Boromir, Merry and Pip in the other. It was a snug fit and though it wasn't as bad as riding horseback, Rosa wasn't too fond of it either. Both left her with a sense of instability and the feeling of ground moving beneath her.

Restless she draped herself over the edge of the boat, letting her fingertips graze the surface as they floated down the Anduin. It wasn't so bad, she thought to herself. Of course they were moving relatively slowly. It wasn't long until the current of the river helped speed things along.

Rosa turned towards Gimli and Legolas, "how long will we be...floating..to our destination?" She looked out warily at the water, they were dead center of the river and it was quite the distance to either side.

Gimli suppressed a laugh, "Not much longer, lass, ye've nothin' to worry about."

Rosa snorted, she highly doubted that.

Looking to the other boats she saw Aragorn staring up in wonder. What's he...

"Woah."

In front of them, on either side of the river, were two giant statues. They almost looked to be guarding what lay ahead, with their hands outstretched and palms forward, as if only those that they wished would be allowed to pass.

...

Boromir lifted the hobbits from the boat quickly, shifting uncomfortably when he had settled everything into their small encampment. He didn't like being idle, his eyes would wander towards Rosa, a habit he was wont to break. It had been days and yet she was always at the forefront of his mind. Grumbling at his thoughts he plowed forward into the forest in search of firewood.

She was a frustrating woman. Did she not realize the effect she had on him? He groaned aloud, leaning forward to take another log from the ground. He wasn't certain how much longer he would be able to successfully avoid her. His mind flashed to the river and he had to physically shake the image from his head. Hair fell forward into his eyes and he struggled with full arms to remove it.

The walk through the forest proved helpful. The soft crunch of leaves and twigs beneath his feet and the familiar whisper of wind through the trees. It had been many months since he heard the patter of stone underfoot and the swell of pride as horns sounded in his white city. The forest held beauties of its own but he longed to see Gondor again, moreover he longed for a real bed beneath him. The laughter of his younger brother echoing down the halls. Boromir's face turned grim, it had been a length of time since anyone had laughed in Gondor. He wondered if things would ever turn back to the way they were in his youth. He wondered how Faramir faired in his absence. How his father treated him. Boromir was not blind to his father's favoritism but he had hoped their relationship would strengthen while he was gone.

Boromir was startled from his thoughts when he saw Frodo in the distance. What is he doing so far from camp? He felt a familiar thrum in his mind. The ring's whispers licked at his ears. He had not heard it for days, his thoughts so consumed with Rosa. Now that he had finally expelled her from his thoughts the ring was free to plague his mind.

..Boromir...

"None of us should wander alone. You, least of all. So much depends on you. Frodo? I know why you seek solitude. You suffer, I see it day by day. You sure you do not suffer needlessly? There are other ways, Frodo. Other paths that we might take."

Afraid, Frodo stumbled away from him, "I know what you would say. It would seem like wisdom but for the warning in my heart."

...Boromir...Steward-Prince of Gondor...take what is yours...

"Warning? Against what? 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?"

"There is no other way!"

Boromir throws the firewood in his arms to the ground in anger, "I ask only for the strength to defend my people! If you would but lend me the ring.."


"Recover strength?" Gimli grumbled. Rosa chuckled amused at how offended Gimli seemed by Aragorn's words. It wasn't until Merry spoke that the smile left her face.

"Where's Frodo?"

Rosa looked around, both Frodo and Boromir were gone. Within seconds her eyes found Aragorn's, they had come to the same conclusion but Rosa reacted fast. She took off running.

How could I be so stupid?

She was running too quickly to avoid the braches, leaving scraps along her face and arms from the twisted branches. Rosa cursed the trees, nature didn't seem so beautiful when it was clawing at your face. Holding her arms up she continued running until she heard Frodo's voice. Stopping momentarily she watched in horror as Boromir acted in a way she had never seen before.

"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!"

She watched as Frodo turned to run and Boromir gave chase, it wasn't long before Boromir had caught up to Frodo and as he struggled against Boromir she ran towards them.

"Boromir!" she shouted as she tackled Boromir away from Frodo. When his gaze turned on her, she could see the madness in his eyes. The madness that the Ring had caused. She looked to see that Frodo had paused, he was clearly concerned for her safety.

"Run Frodo! Run and don't look back!" and he did just that. Rosa could feel Boromir shift beneath her and knew it was a matter of seconds before he would gain the upper hand. She needed to do something.

Think! Think! THINK!...Oh!

Rosa yelped as he roughly flipped them over but before Boromir could get up Rosa wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled his face towards her own until her soft lips met his. To Boromir it was like a slap to the face, his mind was instantly clear. His body on the other hand was having a much stronger reaction. His mouth pressed against hers with a hunger he didn't know he possessed and all thoughts of the Ring and Frodo quickly vanished from his mind.

Rosa gasped as his hands found her body, pulling her hard against him while her own hands dug themselves deeper into his hair. When his tongue dashed across her lips, she was ready to give in. Her mouth opening to his and their tongues battling for dominance. Boromir groaned as she arched her back, pressing her hips against his. When they finally pulled apart both were gasping for air.

She was saved from saying anything as they both heard the thundering of hundreds of feet, in the distance Uruks could be seen. Rosa untangled herself from Boromir and stood quickly as she could.

Boromir looked down at her, "Go!"

They took off running for the camp and their weapons. When they made it to the camp it was still empty, so they took their weapons and went in search of the hobbits. They were defenseless and would be killed in a matter of seconds if the Uruks caught up to them.

"Merry! Pip!" Rosa called out when she saw them running. Boromir charged forward, knocking back the Uruk that had been chasing after them. Rosa pushed the hobbits behind her. She shakily drew her bow and aimed for the closest Uruks. She still wasn't the best but since the Uruks were so many and so large, her arrows didn't want for targets.

It didn't take long for the Uruks to flood the area and Rosa was left with no choice but to get up close and personal with them. Clutching her daggers in her hands she adopted a sort of strike and jump strategy. If she could dodge their blows they she didn't have to worry about their strength overpowering her own. That, however, didn't last long. Rosa barely managed to stay on her feet after blocking a blow, she was still far too inexperienced. When she heard Boromir's horn she was both grateful and terrified, the others would come to help but would she and Boromir last until they got here?


A/N: I knooooooow...I'm evil...but no worries I won't kill Boromir...or will I? No, seriously, I promise I won't. Please Review!