CHAPTER 16

BOROMIR'S RIDE

Millie's POV

Frodo was propped up against a rough rock wall trying to get a drink of water, only to find that the container was empty. He sighed, gave up, and threw it down. "Here Mr. Frodo," Sam said, "Take mine, there's a few drops left." Frodo gratefully took the water and drank a sip, then handed it back and said sadly, "There'll be none left for the return journey."

I sighed sadly and looked up at the dark, ashy sky, maybe we'd survive…but I was beginning to doubt it…beginning to think there wouldn't be a return journey…that we'd never again see the others…I'd die… at age seventeen. Tears welled in my eyes and fell down my dirty face.

"Millie?" I turned, Sam was looking at me, his eyes full of concern. "C'mon," I said after a brief silence, "We should go." I offered Frodo my hand, he took it, and I helped him up, then we set off.

We staggered across the rocky barren landscape. Frodo walked, half stumbling, as if his eyes could no longer see what was ahead. His right hand was pressed against his chest, supporting the heavy weight, while his left often rose, as if to ward off some invisible shadow or blow. We watched with concern etched on our faces, Sam then looked behind and I ran and caught Frodo just before he landed in the dust.

"Get down!" Sam suddenly exclaimed. I picked up Frodo and half-stumbled into our hiding place, caught off balance. I set the tiny hobbit down in between the two of us, and waited.

Elizabeth's POV

"Pull back! Pull back!" Aragorn's voice rang in the air as the masses of orcs marched toward us. We turned our horses and galloped back. The rivals were coming closer and closer to us, the army began to waver and some men backed away, losing their nerve. Aragorn suddenly stepped forward on his horse and in a booming voice said, "Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers, my friends. I see it in your eyes, the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day! An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the age of men comes crashing down, but it is not this day! This day we fight!"

Suddenly encouraged, we all cheered and raised our swords, and then at orders, we lunged into battle. This is the End… I thought.

Millie's POV

We were all breathing hard when Frodo's eyes snapped open, revealing a cloudy blue gaze. Sam crawled towards him, "It's gone Mr. Frodo." He said, "The light's passed on, away towards the North . . . something's drawn its gaze." We staggered to our feet and moved on.

We were now climbing the face of Mount Doom, a violent landscape, red heat hissed out of fissures, a blanket of dust and ash covered the ground, and the rock was jagged and razor sharp. The sky reeked of smoke and we climbed and climbed as red lightning slashed across the sky with deafening crash. We staggered across the landscape, parched, scratched, and dirty. Frodo suddenly tripped and fell face first into the dust. Sam dropped beside him and I stopped and fell to my knees, joining them.

Sam turned Frodo over and cradled him in his arms, looked down at him and said "Do you remember the Shire, Mr. Frodo? . . . It'll be spring soon, and the orchards will be in blossom; and the birds will be nesting in the hazel thicket; and they'll be sowing the summer barley in the lower fields; and eating the first of the strawberries with cream. Do you remember the taste of strawberries?"

Frodo closed his eyes and said softly and sadly, "No Sam, I can't recall the taste of food; nor the sound of water; nor the touch of grass…nothing…there's no veil between me and the wheel of fire…I can see it with my waking eyes." Tears came into my eyes.

Sam looked down at Frodo with grim determination, "Then let us be rid of it, once and for all. I can't carry it for you-but I can carry you!" Sam got up and lifted Frodo over his shoulders, then he helped me up and we began to climb towards the entrance of the mountain.

Elizabeth's POV

I looked around me in despair, many men had fallen...and most of the horses had been lost…orcs were overtaking us…we were losing.

Suddenly, I felt a heavy weight on me and I was thrown off my horse. Bang! I hit the ground with a thud and before I knew it, the orc was on top of me. My weapons had fallen out of reach and I had lost most of my armor, so I was just wearing my dark green leather tunic, brown leggings and my chain-mail. I was powerless. Weaponless. Screwed. Done. The orc slashed his sword across my middle. The gash went from my shoulder down the middle of my chest, ending at my hip. I screamed. The orc raised his sword above me for a killing blow, but froze suddenly, as the blade of a sword went through him and he crumpled to the ground, dead. I looked at the owner of the blade, it was Boromir. He was breathing hard, a look of menace on his face. His gaze softened when he saw me…softened into horror and sorrow and love. He dropped his sword and ran to my side and kneeled before me.

"Elizabeth...no…" I felt myself fading.

"Boromir…" He took my face in his hands.

"Look at me," he said, "Look at me! You'll be alright." There were tears in his eyes. I felt the stinging of my own tears, "I'm going to save you."

I did not protest…I couldn't. I felt his cloak wrap around me and he picked me up, slung me gently over his tall horse, got on and rode away from battle, back to Gondor, at that moment I drifted into nothingness and passed out.

Character POV (third person): Boromir

Boromir took one look at the injured girl, whipped off his cloak and wrapped it around her. He quickly mounted her and himself onto Mikayla, then rode off in the direction of Gondor, holding her tightly. When the white city came into view, he headed straight in through the smashed gate toward the Houses of Healing. He found Ioreth, "This girl need treatment…and fast." He carried her into one of the rooms and waited outside the door, pacing back and forth. At last Ioreth let him in. The room was dark and cool with sort of a gloomy feeling. Elizabeth was lying in the bed, eyes closed, seemingly asleep, in a plain white dress. If you can recall the way sleeping beauty lay in her bed, asleep, Elizabeth laid the same way. Boromir kneeled by her bed and took her hand, looking at her face. Her eyes were closed and her red ringlets were arranged neatly on her shoulders. She looked so peaceful.

"We've done all we can for her," said Ioreth softly, "what happens next is beyond me." She turned and left without another word. Boromir hung his head and began to weep, she was fading fast, "Please Elizabeth…don't go…don't leave." The last two words were barely audible. He continued to cry. Suddenly, he felt a slightly trembling, warm hand run through his hair and around his back.

"Boromir, why are you crying?" he looked up and found himself staring into Elizabeth's beautiful blue eyes.

"Elizabeth…"

She wiped the tears from his face, "I'm here." she said. Boromir walked over to the window and opened the curtains, letting in the sunlight. Then he helped Elizabeth out of the bed, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a tight but gentle hug. She hugged him back and pressed her cheek into his chest and closed her eyes. Boromir laid his cheek on top of her head and closed his eyes as well, a tear of joy sliding down his face.