Song: Imaginary
Artist: Evanescence
Disclaimer: Any and all things mentioned in this story that are copyrighted do not belong to me. I am just using them for enjoyment and inspiration with this story, and no profit is being made with these copyrighted things.
Scarlet Rebelle(aka:ItsLateAndImTired): Of course it's chocolate double chunk! The only kind that's better is one with peanut butter. Thanks again for reviewing! (btw: I SHALL come to you in the future if I need a character name!)
Chapter Three: Imaginary
It was the next day that we set out for Mordor. Gandalf had convinced the others that I was able to keep up with the pace they planned on, so we left Rivendell without a hitch. We traveled for days, the others getting to know be better. I was surprised to find that I was growing more outgoing as we traveled, and I was happy about it! A few days before we were to reach the Gap of Rohan, we set up camp for the night, and Boromir asked me an odd (for him) question.
"Can you sing, lady ranger?" He asked as the fire caught fully. Boromir had taken to calling me that, and I didn't mind. It meant that he acknowledged that I was fully woman and warrior.
"I like to think that I can," I replied, nervous when I felt the gazes of everyone fall on me "why do you ask?" I may have grown more outgoing, but I was still no-where NEAR confident in myself.
"Will you sing something?" Merry piped up. I felt my heart speed up.
"I don't know..." I muttered, REALLY nervous. I never liked to sing in front of others because I got SEVERE stagefright.
"Come on, please?" Merry and Pippin begged. I sighed and nodded, knowing that they would not leave me alone.
"What sort of song?" I asked.
"How about something hopeful?" Frodo suggested.
"That sounds good to me." Sam agreed. The others voiced their agreement.
"Hopeful, huh?" I mused. After a few seconds of thought, I knew the perfect song. I took a deep breath and began.
Many night's we've prayed
With no proof anyone could hear
In our hearts a hopeful song
We barely understood,
Now we are not afraid
Although we know there's much to fear
We were moving mountains long before we knew we could
I smiled at Frodo before continuing.
There can be miracles When you believe
Though hope is frail It's hard to kill
Who knows what miracles You can achieve
When you believe Somehow you will
You will when you believe
I cast my gaze to Boromir, knowing that he needed to hear what was next.
In this time of fear
When prayer so often proved in vain
Hope seemed like the summer birds
Too swiftly flown away
Yet now I'm standing here
With heart so full I can't explain
Seeking faith and speaking words I never thought I'd say
There can be miracles When you believe
Though hope is frail Its hard to kill
Who knows what miracles You can achieve
When you believe Somehow you will
Now you will
You will when you believe
You will when you…believe
Everyone was silent for a moment when I finished. I worried a bit, wondering if they thought that I wasn't good. My doubts were for nothing, though.
"That was beautiful." Legolas quietly commented. I couldn't help but blush as I shyly smiled at him in thanks.
"How long have you been a singer for?" Sam asked. I thought for a moment.
"Since I was three years old," I replied "so, for about seventeen years, now." I saw Aragorn and Boromir exchange amused glances.
"What's so funny, you two?" Gandalf asked. Aragorn turned to me.
"I thought that women did not like to reveal their age?" he asked. I smirked.
"Most don't," I replied "but I'm bloody well proud of the fact that I'm only twenty." That elicited a few good-natured chuckles from the group. I then felt a little mischievous. "Of course, you're one to talk when it comes to age, Aragorn."
"What do you mean?" he questioned, confused. I smirked.
"I mean, you look very good for an 87 year old man." I calmly stated, taking a drink from my water bag. Aragorn dropped HIS in shock.
"How did you know?" he questioned.
"Give it up, laddie," Gimli offered at my silence. "She'll never reveal her secret." With that, we ate and slept. We traveled for another day, and then stopped at a cluster of boulders for the night. I recognized the rocks, and the next day I made sure that I had all my things on my person. I sat next to Aragorn as Boromir started Merry and Pippen's sword lesson. I took the cap of my quiver and laced the container shut.
"Are you sure about that?" Legolas asked as I tied the laces "you may need your bow." I smiled at the elf as I placed my quiver at my feet. I then removed my butterfly swords from their sheath and looked over the handles. Yes, there is only one sheath. For those of you who do not know, butterfly swords attach to each other for easy concealment and carrying.
"Are you any good with that?" Boromir asked. Before anyone could say anything else, I separated the two blades and threw one of them at the ground in front of his feet. I smiled and waved the blade in my hand as the other wavered ever so slightly.
"I would say that's a 'yes'." Pippen muttered. I chuckled and retrieved the blade stuck in the ground. After I re-attached the blades, sheathed them, and slung my bow and quiver onto my back, I joined Legolas in observing our surroundings. We both hopped up on some rocks and watched as a dark cluster of shadows approached from the distance.
"What is that?" Sam asked.
"Nothing," Gimli replied "just a wisp of cloud."
"It's moving fast," Boromir commented, his tone showing that he did NOT agree with Gimli "Against the wind."
"Crebain from Dunland!" Legolas and I called out, alerting the others. Aragorn shouted for us all to hide, and we all sprung into action. I dove into the bushes alongside Legolas and kept close to the ground. I watched as the birds flew over our hiding places, and couldn't help but feel a shiver of terror. I knew that the Crebain were coming, yet it still scared me that they were servants of such a powerful enemy. When the flock was far enough away, we all emerged from our hiding places.
"The passage south is being watched," Gandalf stated, looking at us. "We must take the Pass of Caradhras." We organized our supplies, and started up the mountain. We climbed the mountain, and reached fairly high up by mid-day. I was walking at the back of the group with Aragorn as we trudged through the snow. Suddenly, Frodo tripped, and fell backwards. Aragorn and I rushed to help him stand. I saw Frodo grasp underneath his shirt, realizing that he lost the Ring. I saw the flash of gold and silver in the snow as Boromir picked it up.
"Boromir." I called, trying to break the man out of his trance. Of course, it didn't work.
"It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing." he muttered, gazing at the Ring. "Such a little thing."
"Boromir!" Aragorn jolted the man out of his trance. "Give the Ring to Frodo." I watched as Boromir gave a nervous smile, trying to lighten the mood.
"As you wish," he replied, handing Frodo the Ring. "I care not." he stated, mussing Frodo's hair. I patted Aragorn's shoulder, and walked up next to Boromir. I smiled at the shaken man as we got back on our way. I knew that when someone was upset with themselves, a smile could help them feel better. We kept going on our path, and I noticed that the first flakes of Saruman's storm were beginning to fall. I turned to Boromir as the group huddled together to fit on the path. I could tell that he was still slightly shaken by his temptation.
"Don't feel bad about what happened back there." I quietly comforted him. I could see in his eyes that he did find some comfort in my words. There was no more time for talk, however, because soon after, the storm began. I hunched over next to Boromir, holding Merry close to me, while we trudged through the blinding blizzard. I knew that Gandalf was adamant that we not turn back, but the man was too stubborn to realize that we would probably die if we stayed up here too long! I looked up long enough to see Legolas pass me, walking on top of the waist-high snow.
"Show-off." I couldn't help thinking. All of the sudden, I heard Legolas say something.
"There is a fell voice on the air." he muttered. I listened, and heard it as well.
"It's Saruman!" Gandalf shouted back to us. Rocks from the cliff above us fell, narrowly missing the entire group.
"He's trying to bring down the mountain!" Aragorn shouted to the wizard leading us. "Gandalf, we must turn back!" Brilliant idea, shouting while on a mountain that is at risk of avalanche!
"NO!" Gandalf cried. He then began fighting Saruman with magic of his own. It did not work, however, since soon after we were buried in snow. On instinct, I hunched over Merry to protect him as the snow came down. I laced arms with Boromir and the two of us pulled each other and the hobbits up to the surface. Soon everyone was free of the snow.
"Gandalf!" Aragorn tried to talk some sense into the wizard "We must get off the mountain!" Boromir and I nodded in agreement.
"We make for the Gap of Rohan, and take the west road to my city!" Boromir suggested, making more sense than staying up here!
"The passage south takes us too close to Isengard!" Aragorn reminded him.
"If we cannot go over the mountain, then let us go under it!" Gimli offered "Let us go through the mines of Moria." I could see Gandalf wanted to do anything but go through the mines, so he put the pressure on someone else.
"Let the Ring bearer decide." Gandalf said, looking to Frodo. I could see the young hobbit tense. The look in his eyes told me he came to a decision.
"We will go through the mines." he declared. I could see Gandalf nod.
Let me tell you, we couldn't get off that mountain fast enough!
End Chapter Three
AN: What do you think? Rate and Review, please! BTW: I'm all for suggestions for chapter titles! Just think of the events of the LOTR storyline, and suggest a song that goes along with one of those events!