The mood between Boromir and Aragorn was tense the next morning as we broke camp and repacked the boats and pushing off. Boromir often shot glances at Frodo's boat as we traveled and I was not entirely sure if he was looking at Aragorn or Frodo. We passed through a canyon and I saw Aragorn lift his head with a half smile and tap Frodo's shoulder.

"Frodo, the Argonath!" He said and I followed his gaze to see two massive towering stone figures. Their left arms were held aloft with the palms facing outward in a gesture of warning. I gasped as I looked at them. They were truly magnificent to behold.

"Long have I desired to look upon the kings of old. My kin." I looked over to my father in mild shock. It was the first time I had heard him make any mention of his relation to the old kings. We sailed past them into a lake at the end of which was a roaring waterfall. We steered the boats to the right shore and pushed them through the gravel so that the current would not take them away. As we disembarked I saw a troubled look on Boromir's face like he was fighting a conflict inside himself. I knew the Ring had begun to weigh on him the moment we left Lothlorien and I feared that he would not be able to hold himself in check much longer. Boromir was a good and honorable man and it was unfair that the Ring was tormenting him so. Frodo looked over at him with a small look of fear on his face before quickly looking away. We unloaded the boats and made camp while Merry and Boromir left to go gather firewood. Sam got a small fire going and cooked some food for Pippin who looked all too happy at the prospect of food. Gimli was seated next to him poking the fire with a stick. I had seated myself on a large rock and pulled my pipe out to smoke, ignoring the look my father shot me at the action.

"We cross the lake at nightfall. Hide the boats and continue on foot. We approach Mordor from the north."

"Oh, yes?! It is just a simple matter of finding our way through Emyn Muil? An impassable labyrinth of razor sharp rocks! And after that it gets even better!" Gimli exclaimed. Pippin looked up alarmed as he chewed his food. "Festering, stinking marashlands, far as the eye can see!" Pippin stopped chewing his food and looked thoroughly disgusted at the idea.

"That is our road. I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength, Master Dwarf." Aragorn said. I chuckled as I took a deep inhale off my pipe.

"Recover my...?! Phrr." Gimli trailed off with a growl.

"We should leave now." Legolas said as he looked around uneasily.

"No. Orcs patrol the eastern shore. We must wait for the cover of darkness." Aragorn replied.

"It is not the eastern shore that worries me. A shadow and a threat has been growing in my mind. Something draws near...I can feel it. Cainmar has also felt it." He said gesturing to where I was reclining on the rock. Aragorn looked up at me.

"It is true. I have also felt something dark drawing near, but I have not seen anything as of yet. I have not heard anything since that day on the river. Either what hunts us has fallen far behind, or they have become more careful with their passing." I answered reclining once again. Gimli was still grumbling to Pippin about Aragorn's comment when Merry returned with an armful of wood for the fire. He looked around for a moment before his face became confused.

"Where is Frodo?" He asked. Immediately I sat up and Sam who was beginning to doze off startled and also looked around. I joined him and saw that Frodo was, in fact, not in the camp. I doused my pipe and saw that my father's gaze had fallen on Boromir's shield who had not returned with Merry. I heard a yell in the forest and jumped from my rock to the ground and took off into the woods at full speed ignoring the yells and calls coming from the others.

I came upon Boromir sitting on the fallen leaves sobbing. I fell to my knees and slid to a stop next to him. I grabbed his shoulders and shook him hard.

"Where is he Boromir?" I demanded. He didn't answer and kept sobbing. I allowed some of the cold to ebb out of me and sink into his skin. He yelped and looked up at me with wide horrified eyes.

"Rhew?" He asked.

"Where is Frodo Boromir!" I demanded again. Tears welled up in his eyes and I felt horror fill my own.

"I am so sorry. I found him wandering and I warned him back to camp. He of all people should not be wandering alone in the woods. After that I cannot remember anything but a white hot rage. When I came back to my senses he was gone and I was lying here. I knew what had happened. I tried to take the Ring, I know that I did. I fought it for so long with all my strength and I failed him." Boromir sobbed. I pulled him to me so that I was cradling his head against my chest and rocking him back and forth.

"I know Boromir. I could see how hard you fought. You held out much longer than any could have hoped." I whispered to him.

"Aragorn has lasted long than I."

"My father is different. He has known all his life the hold the Ring has over him and his line. He has never desired power for anything and that is why the Ring does not affect him as strongly, though it does effect him."

"And the others?" He asked.

"Legolas is an Elf, they do not desire power, never have. Gimli is a Dwarf and though the gold in the Ring calls to him, as does all the precious metals and jewels in the earth, he now carries something far more desirous to him. As for the hobbits. They are a people who desire nothing but good food, good ale and nice tilled earth. I already possess a great and terrible power, mine is far stronger than that of Sauron's and so the Ring has never called to me. You sought it, not to harm anyone, but to help the people of your city. The Ring used that to its advantage. You are not weak Boromir. There are very few Men who are strong enough to resist the lure of the Ring." I explained gently. My head snapped up from its place on top of Boromir's as I strained my hearing. I heard the ring of swords and knew that whatever had been hunting us had caught up and was fighting with my father.

"He is fighting." I said in an absent tone.

"Who?" Boromir asked.

"My father. Whatever has been hunting us has caught up and now fights with him. Legolas and Gimli are nearly to him..." My voice trailed off as I heard something else and my eyes widened.

"What is it Rhew?"

"The halflings. They hunt for the halflings." I breathed. Boromir shot to his feet drawing me up with him. I grabbed his hand and sprinted off toward Merry and Pippin's voices. They were calling for the creatures to chase them and there were too many of the creatures between Aragorn and Merry and Pippin. He would not reach them in time, but we would.

"Come on Boromir! We have to hurry!" I yelled and ran even faster. Boromir dropped my hand and shoved me forward.

"Go! Run. You are faster than me and we cannot afford to have you lose time running with me!" Boromir yelled. I nodded and ran as fast as I could. I could see Merry and Pippin now as well as the large Orc like creature bearing down on them with a battle ax raised high. I unsheathed my sword and felt the ax collide hard with my sword as I just barely made it in time. I kicked the creature back and used its own ax to kill it. I tossed a knife at another one as they swarmed around us. I heard the clang of a sword and I assumed that Boromir had finally caught up with me. There were too many of them for us to fight off and I could not unmask my true presence because it would become too cold for Boromir and the hobbits to be able to fight freely. Behind me I heard the loud basting noise from Boromir's horn and knew that he was calling for the aid of the others. Boromir sounded the horn again as the four of us sliced through Orc after Orc.

"Run! Run!" Boromir yelled to Merry and Pippin. I stood between Boromir and the Orcs as he herded the hobbits farther away. They were throwing rocks at the Orcs to help distract them, making them easier to kill. I was so focused on killing the Orcs trying to get to Merry and Pippin that I missed the sound of a bow being drawn back and fired.

"Cain!" Boromir yelled and slammed into me hard enough to send me sprawling on the ground where I watched in horror as a black arrow thudded into his shoulder. Boromir jerked backwards and fell to his knees gasping. The three of us stared in shock before Boromir gave a mighty battle cry and swung his sword at an approaching Orc, killing it. Merry Pippin and I surged back into action slaughtering Orcs and I moved into a protective position in front of Boromir. I looked around trying to find the source of the arrow and saw the Orc right as he loosed another arrow. This one thudded into my shoulder with enough force to spin me away. My hood fell away and I cried out as I hit the ground. I looked up to see another arrow thud into Boromir's stomach. He fell to his knees again. I had no idea where the others were so I did the only thing I could. I took a deep breath and screamed as loudly as I could. Everyone around me flinched at the shrillness and volume of the scream. Merry and Pippin were frozen in shock and the rocks slipped from their hands as they looked at Boromir. I got to my feet and sliced at the Orcs that came near us, but it wasn't enough as I felt one of them slam a large meaty hand into my face. My head snapped to the side and I felt an explosion of pain in my mouth. I grunted and swung around to take the head off the Orc that had hit me. Once again I saw Boromir get to his feet and swing his sword through an Orc as another arrow lodged itself into his body, only this time it landed in his chest. Again he fell to his knees only this time he stayed there blinking in shock and swaying.

"Boromir!" I screamed as I fought to get to him. I looked at the Orc who had shot him and threw a knife at him that lodged in his shoulder throwing off his shot so that it went wide and grazed the side of my face. I ignored the stinging pain and saw Merry and Pippin draw their swords and attack the approaching Orcs who did not seem to care and lifted them up to carry them away. I lunged after them but was dropped by an arrow thudding into my stomach and I could only watch as they were carried away, calling for me and Boromir. I coughed and snapped the shaft of the arrow that pierced my stomach and tossed the excess length aside as I scrambled to my feet and fought the Orcs that were retreating now that they had their prize. Boromir was unable to do anything but watch helplessly and I turned to see the Orc that had shot me and Boromir in front of me. He slammed the end of his bow across my face and I staggered back at the blow and dropped to one knee before shaking my head and looking up only to get another hit. I fell back onto the ground and screamed as he shot an arrow into my other shoulder. It went through and stuck deep into the ground, pinning me in place. He walked away from me and stood in front of Boromir who looked up at him.

"Boromir!" I yelled drawing his attention away from the Orc that was notching another arrow to finish the job.

"Do not look at him. Look at me." I ordered my voice tight with pain. Boromir locked his eyes with mine and I smiled at him as tears flowed from my eyes. "Look at me, look at me. Everything will be alright." I whispered to him. He gave me a weak smile and I tried hard to swallow the lump in my throat. I made sure to keep his eyes locked with mine as I heard the bow drawn back. I had not abandoned him yet and I would not start now. I would be there with him until the very end.