Day 2 of my midterm marathon! This chapter marks the end of Estel's journey through The Fellowship of the Ring, in which she recovered a brother, Eldarion. After this, I move on to The Two Towers.

Chapter Eighteen

~ Estel ~
I struggled violently against Boromir's restraining hands, seeking escape. I knew that Boromir wasn't in his right mind, and for him to force himself on me would effectively ruin everything. Eldarion and Lord Elrond would never forgive him, and I would never be comfortable in his presence again.

In fact, I doubted that I would ever be comfortable with him again, regardless of whether I escaped or not.

Boromir growled at me in anger, and I froze in fear. Already I had bruises from this encounter; I didn't need anymore. But then Boromir released one of my hands, obviously assuming that I had yielded completely to him.

In a flash, my hand darted to the concealed dagger Lord Elrond had given to me. I yanked the blade out, and it flashed across Boromir's chest, slicing open the first layer of his clothes. Then I slammed the hilt into his hands.

He grunted in surprise and released me completely. Gasping, I scrambled to my feet and fled.

I didn't care where I fled and didn't make my path. The only thing I could think of was to flee far away from Boromir. Panic had overtaken any other emotion, any rational sense.

Someone grabbed my arm. "Estel!"

I whirled around, trying to break the grip. "No! Stay away from me, Boromir!"

~ Legolas ~
I started when Estel ran past me suddenly. I had a split second to choose – go after Boromir, or go after Estel. I decided that revenge could wait; I needed to make sure that Estel was alright.

I darted after her. My speed was such that after a moment, I got close enough to grab her arm. "Estel!" I exclaimed worriedly.

Estel spun around, trying desperately to break the grip. "No!" she cried wildly. "Stay away from me, Boromir!"

My rage spiked at the mention of the name, and it was with great difficulty that I kept myself from tightening my grip on her arm. By the time I had gotten my temper back under control, Estel had realized who it was and had ceased her struggles.

My gaze traveled over her, noting a rip in her tunic and a bruise on her cheek. My anger grew with each new injury I saw. Then I noticed how her belt was undone.

My eyes flashed up to her face and my breath caught. Boromir had tried to rape her.

"Legolas," Estel breathed. Her face was flushed and her eyes shown with fear. Everything about her was telling me that something – Boromir, I thought with in anger – had scared her. "I'm so sorry – "

I let my hands settle on her shoulders. "What did he do?" I demanded angrily.

I realized my mistake as Estel blanched and shrank away. I pulled her close to me, trying to reassure myself that she was safe now and vowing deep revenge on Denethorion.

She hesitated, but eventually gave up and leaned against me. She rested her head on her hands, still braced on my chest as if to try and push me away, and I felt trembles go through her slender body. I could still sense her fear and her confusion.

I felt anger rage within me, and I knew right then and there that I would never allow Estel alone with anyone save her brother and Aragorn. She had already been wounded so much that to suffer more was just . . . I just couldn't allow it.

~ Eldarion ~
"Estel!" I shouted.

There was no answer. Fear raced in my veins for my sister. It was like her to run off so impulsively, but it was unlike her to be gone for so long.

I heard yelling in the distance. My heartbeat sped up as I recognized the ugly calls of Orcs. I began to run in the direction of the shouts.

I raced onto the scene just in time to see Aragorn jump onto some Orcs with a cry of "Elendil!" With a snarl, I pulled out my sword and entered the fight. I was soon deeply thankful for Haldir's extensive training in the matter of sword fighting. Training with and against Elves had given me strength and reflexes that proved very helpful against the Orcs.

Oops, I realized suddenly as one of the "Orcs" fell flat on its face in front of me after I stabbed it. These aren't Orcs.

"Uruk-hai!" I muttered to myself. The creation of Saruman. Lovely. Just what I wanted to meet on my first true venture out of Lothlórien after meeting my sister for the first time in eighteen years.

Legolas and Gimli raced onto the scene and immediately the battle grew more crowded as the two succeeded in creating a whole lot more confusion. One of the Uruk-hai managed to back me into a corner. I ducked, avoiding a fatal blow.

There was a twang of a bow being released, and an arrow plunged itself into the Uruk-hai's chest. I looked around, startled, to see my sister slowly lowering her bow.

"Estel!" I ran over to my sister, squeezing her tightly in a powerful embrace. I shot a grateful look at Legolas, who merely inclined his head in reply before whirling to shot yet another Uruk-hai.

My sister choked out, "Eldarion, air, please. I would like to live past this, you know."

I let go, embarrassed, just as a horn sounded loudly. Legolas's head turned toward the sound. "The horn of Gondor!" he exclaimed.

"Boromir!"

With that, we moved our battle down the hill to the embattled Boromir Denethorion.

~ Estel ~
I ran onto the scene as Aragorn moved over to – more like stumbled, actually – over to Boromir. The Man had three nasty looking black arrows sticking out of his chest. "Oh, no," I breathed, coming to a halt next to Legolas.

Boromir had tried to rape me, had tried to steal the Ring from Frodo, had insulted Aragorn and the Elves – but I had not wanted him to die.

My brother flew past me, dropping to his knees next to the two Men. With expert hands skilled in the healing lore of the Dúnedain, he and Aragorn pried out the black arrows, working quickly before the poison of the arrows spread.

My brother poured some water over the wounds, and Boromir jerked in pain, gasping, as the cold water came into contact with the wounds left by the arrows.

"He doesn't have too long to live," Aragorn murmured, resting a hand on Boromir's forehead.

"But he still has time before he goes to the Halls of Mandos," Eldarion argued. "Lothlórien can offer him healing."

"Lothlórien is too far upstream," Legolas cut in, striding over. "He would not make it in time, and the quest must continue."

Eldarion paused. "I will take him," he volunteered quietly. "I will take him back."

I stared at my brother. A bitter taste crept into my mouth. Was this all life had to offer to me? To finally gain my brother back after eighteen long years only to lose him once more? "Eldarion – " I began.

"No, Estel," my brother interrupted, standing. "I know where the wardens usually patrol, and they know me very well. You and the others can go on; I will join you after I see Boromir into the hands of the Lord and Lady."

~ Legolas ~
Eldarion and Aragorn eased Boromir into one of the boats as Estel worked swiftly to pack Eldarion some food and water for the journey. She then approached Eldarion, her eyes sparkling as they always did, but this time with tears of sadness instead of those of joy and mirth.

Aragorn and I withdrew to give the sister and brother some time alone. I knew that the separation was going to be hard on the both of them. Estel and Eldarion had, from what I had seen and heard, been the closest in all of their family, and they were close still even with a gap of almost two decades. I could see it in the way the two interacted – the teasing jokes, the gentle touches, the quiet conversations. Already they had been parted for eighteen long years, fearing that the other was dead and gone, beyond the reach of even the Valar themselves.

Now they were to be parted yet again, and it would agony for the both of them, for this time they would be so close and yet so far away from each other. And they were going to be parted because of a Man who had probably reopened the scars in Estel's fëa.

Eldarion hugged his sister tightly then as their conversation ended, and I saw a single tear roll down his cheek. Estel gave him a rather forced smile before withdrawing. Eldarion turned to us and clasped first Aragorn's and then my shoulders in the traditional farewell.

"This, I guess, will be farewell – for a time," he said mournfully, unable to hide the anguish in his voice that arose from being separated from his sister. "So I entrust to you the safekeeping of my sister, Estel Elessariel. Please, keep her safe."

Aragorn placed his hand over his heart. "You have my word, Eldarion Elessarion," he vowed. "My sword and life is pledged in her defense until your return."

Eldarion summoned a ghost of a smile. "I know, and I trust you, my king," he murmured, inclining his head. Then Eldarion turned to me.

I copied Aragorn's movement. "Your kinsman I may not be," I said, "but if one is to judge by friendship, Estel Elessariel is indeed my kin. My bow and life is pledged to her safekeeping, now and until the end of my days."

Tears glimmered in Eldarion's eyes and he bowed. "You honor me with your devotion to me and my kin," Eldarion replied. Then he leaped into the boat and pushed off, giving one last look over his shoulder to his sister, who called out, "~The sun shines on the day of your departure, my brother!~"

Eldarion smiled rather sadly as the words of what I sensed was the traditional farewell for the Believers, and he shouted back, "~May the Valar grant that it will shine all the brighter on the day of my return, my sister!~"