The Rose of the Fellowship

Song: My Immortal

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.

AN: For those of you who are overly concerned about details like this, Sarah is back in her traveling clothes.

Chapter Six: My Immortal

We were on our way, guiding our boats down the Great River. I was in the same boat as Legolas, helping him row. With each stroke, I felt my bow touch the bench I was sitting on. I thought back to how I had received this new bow.

(*)Flashback(*)

The others had received their gifts, and we were all being given our elvish cloaks. Everyone else had received theirs unfolded, but mine was folded up in a strange shape. I opened it, and inside was an elegantly carved short bow. It was shorter than Legolas' bow, but long enough to have a far range. Much like the bows used by the Rohirrim. I looked to Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn, he being the one who was giving us the cloaks. From the look on Lady Galadriel's face, she did not know where the bow had come from either.

From the wear on the carvings, I could tell that the bow was obviously well loved over years of use, and I could see that it had been restrung. I tested it, and found I could draw it with ease. This couldn't have come at a more opportune moment, since my old bow had disappeared sometime in the night. After putting on my cloak, I slung the bow on my back, behind my quiver, and joined Legolas in his boat.

(*)End Flashback(*)

We kept paddling through the forests, cutting quietly along the rivers surface. I saw Legolas whip his head to the side, observing the forest on the western shore. I knew that he had heard the Uruk-hai that were following us. We kept on, and soon we were in the shadows of the Argonath. Their sheer size took my breath away, and I could see that the monuments invoked a sense of pride in both Aragorn and Boromir, especially Aragorn, since the kings depicted were his kin. Both Aragorn and Boromir were Gondorian, so it was no surprise.

After passing through the small canyon made by the enormous statues, we paddled to the western side of the lake, and brought our boats to the shore. We needed rest before we were to cross to the eastern shore. As we rested, I vaguely registered that Frodo had gone wandering, and that Boromir had left soon after. I watched as Aragorn observed the eastern shore, then spoke with Gimli and Legolas.

"Where's Frodo?" Merry said, out of the blue. Aragorn looked around, and I could see in his eyes that he had noticed that Boromir was gone as well.

"Boromir is gone, too." Sam piped up.

"We split up, in pairs," Aragorn told us "We need to find them." we all nodded, and I ran with Aragorn in search of Frodo. I couldn't help my worry for Boromir. I knew his fate, and yet my heart still broke for him and Faramir. I observed Aragorn as we searched through the forest. I could see that there was underlying tension to his worry for the Ring bearer. It seemed intrusive, but I tapped into the power of the Heart, and found that my observations were true.

Aragorn was scared. Scared of what would happen if he were in the presence of the Ring for much longer. We approached the ruins where Frodo would later find us, and I took my chance to speak plainly with the Dunedain Ranger.

"Are you alright, Aragorn?" I ventured, walking up to him. He turned to me and nodded. I gave him a look.

"I am alright." he insisted. I again gave him a look that said I did not believe him.

"We all have something in our past that frightens us, Aragorn." I stated, and I could feel his surprise that I had known "The difference between cowards and kings, however, is that kings do not let their past define who they are."

"Are you calling me a coward?" Aragorn shot at me, feeling that it was a blow to his pride.

"I am saying you need to make a choice, one that will change your life forever," I replied, unfazed. "and I know it is a hard one." I watched Aragorn as he thought on this, then smiled at me and nodded. We heard a noise behind us, then turned around and saw that it was Frodo.

"Frodo?" I questioned. I could see the fear in Frodo's eyes.

"It has taken Boromir." Frodo told us.

"Where is the Ring?" Aragorn asked, tone coming out harsher than he probably expected. We approached Frodo, and he backed off in fright.

"Get away!" he shouted at us. I could feel Aragorn's hurt and confusion.

"Frodo!" Aragorn called out, us following Frodo. "We swore to protect you!" he said gently, trying to calm the hobbit down.

"Can you protect me from yourselves?" Frodo asked. He opened his hand to reveal the Ring. He then faced Aragorn "Would you destroy it?" I watched Aragorn as he approached Frodo, and could see in his eyes that the Ring was calling to him. Aragorn then knelt in front of Frodo, and closed the hobbits hand over the Ring.

"I would have gone with you to the end," Aragorn said, knowing what Frodo had to do. "into the very fires of Mordor." He pushed the hobbits hand back to him. I walked up and stood by the two of them.

"I know." Frodo said, silently trying to tell Aragorn that he understood "Look after the others, especially Sam," Frodo turned to me. "he wouldn't understand." Aragorn and I nodded, and I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Frodo's sword, Sting, had started glowing blue. Aragorn and I noticed it at the same time, and we both drew our swords. I twisted my samshir around my hand and faced the forest.

"Go, Frodo!" Aragorn warned the hobbit. I heard Frodo pull Sting slightly out of its sheath, and saw Aragorn walk up next to me. I turned back to look at the hobbit.

"Run!" I told him, having seen shadows of the Uruk-hai as they got closer.

"Run!" Aragorn shouted when Frodo hadn't moved. Frodo ran, and Aragorn and I turned to the forest as the Uruk-hai approached us.

"I'm not going to run, I hope you know that." I muttered to Aragorn, and I could see him nod as we prepared our swords. Soon enough, there was no time for words, for the battle began. I swiftly cut the neck of one Uruk-hai and stabbed another in the stomach. Aragorn and I fought back to back, each protecting the other. One Uruk-hai managed to grab my throat, but I punched him straight across the face, and in this incident, Aragorn and I were separated. I fought the Uruk-hai, suffering from many punches and scratches, and only barely got out of the way of an arrow when Legolas and Gimli joined our fight. We kept fighting the Uruk-hai, pushing them into the forest.

I had just slit the throat of one of the last Uruk-hai when we heard it. A horn sounding in the distance.

"The Horn of Gondor!" Legolas said, us all turning towards the sound.

"Boromir!" Aragorn and I realized. We took off faster than we had ever ran before, hoping to get to Boromir before it was too late. We ran through the forest, and came to the clearing where Boromir and the leader of that group of Uruk-hai were. The leader was about to shoot Boromir in the head, but Aragorn tackled him before his arrow could be loosed. I knew that Aragorn had the fight under control, so I ran over to Boromir.

"Brother." I gasped, seeing firsthand how badly wounded he was. One of the arrows had nicked his lung, so he was having trouble breathing. I knelt beside him. He grabbed my hand.

"Look after Faramir, dear sister." Boromir whispered to me. I squeezed his hand.

"I will," I reassured him "I swear it." I heard Aragorn run up behind us and kneel next to me.

"They took the little ones!" Boromir told him, concerned more for the hobbits than himself.

"Lay still." Aragorn told him, the healer in him kicking into gear.

"Frodo," Boromir asked the Ranger "Where is Frodo?"

"I let Frodo go." Aragorn answered.

"Then you did what I could not," Boromir said "I tried to take the Ring from him." I could feel my heart break at the shame that was evident in Boromir's tone.

"The Ring is beyond our reach now." Aragorn assured him.

"Forgive me, I did not see it," Boromir begged. "I have failed you all."

"No, Boromir, you fought bravely," I assured him, feeling tears well up in my eyes. "You have kept your honor." Aragorn went to pull out one of the arrows, but Boromir stopped him.

"Leave it!" Boromir said "it is over." Aragorn and I glanced at each other. "The world of Men will fall, and all will come to darkness, and my city to ruin!" Boromir grabbed Aragorn's shoulder, and Aragorn grabbed the hand there.

"I do not know what strength is in my blood," Aragorn declared "but I swear to you I will not let the White City fall, nor our people fail." I could see a final twinkle in Boromir's eyes as he heard that.

"Our people." he muttered. I saw Aragorn nod. "Our people." Boromir then reached over for his sword, and Aragorn helped him grab it. Boromir then placed the sword over his heart in a final salute. I could see the tears in Aragorn's eyes as they threatened to spill.

"I would have followed you, my brother," Boromir declared "my captain, my king." I saw the light leave his eyes, and tears slid down my cheeks. I reached over and closed Boromir's eyes as Aragorn touched his own forehead and kissed his hand. He then reached over to Boromir.

"Be at peace, Son of Gondor." he whispered, then kissed Boromir's forehead. The two of us stood up.

"They will look for his coming in the white tower." I started, tears still streaming down my face as I turned to Aragorn.

"But he will not return." he finished, a lone tear sliding down his cheek. Then, with the silent help of Legolas and Gimli, we brought Boromir's body to camp, and proceeded to prepare him for burial. I watched Aragorn as he took Boromir's bracers. His eyes met mine as we at last sent the boat bearing my un-biological brothers body into the water.

"They're to honor his memory." I stated, knowing why Aragorn had taken them. He nodded, and proceeded to lace them on. I then knew what else I could do to honor him, outside of keeping my promise. My hair was long, always kept in a tight ponytail at the base of my skull. Boromir's hair was down to his shoulders. I think you can see where I am going with this. I grabbed my ponytail in my left hand, drew one of my butterfly swords with my right, and in one swift motion, cut off over half my hair as the boat bearing Boromir's body went over the falls. I released it from its tie, and it barely hung past my shoulders. I tied back the pieces that were in my face as Legolas prepared a boat.

"We must hurry!" he said "Sam and Frodo have already reached the eastern shore!" he turned to Aragorn and I when he didn't hear us following him. "You mean not to follow them?" he asked Aragorn. Aragorn shook his head.

"Frodo's fate is no longer in our hands." Aragorn told him.

"Then it has all been in vain!" Gimli said, walking up to us three. "The Fellowship has failed." I placed a hand on Gimli's shoulder as Aragorn placed a hand on Legolas' shoulder.

"Not while we hold true to each other." I declared. Aragorn nodded.

"We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death, not while we have strength left." Aragorn added, walking over to where the last of his things were.

"Leave all that can be spared behind." I told the elf and dwarf, sheathing my butterfly sword as Aragorn sheathed his short sword.

"We travel light." he added. He gave us all a look. "Let us hunt some orc!" he declared. I grinned at Gimli and Legolas before we all followed Aragorn into the forest.

"Merry, Pippin, hold on," I thought as we ran, following the most experienced tracker of us four "we're coming!"

End Chapter Six

AN: I will be the first to admit that Boromir's death scene made me want to cry! Tears were in my eyes just writing the end of this chapter! Boromir was a great guy, just flawed like every other human in the world. And of course, for those of you who pay attention to this sort of thing, this concludes the "Fellowship of the Ring" portion of the story! Next chapter begins the "Two Towers" portion. As always, R&R! Bol'shoe spasibo i Bog blagoslovit!