When Aragorn awoke the next morning at dawn, he found Kali drawing things in the sand with her finger. Aragorn inspected her drawings; they were not of anything he had ever seen before. Kali looked a little out of it, so to speak, so he sat down next to her, "Good morning." She looked over at him,
"Hey," she greeted mildly, looking sort of bored.
"Can I ask you a few questions?" he asked, she shrugged.
"Sure," Legolas felt the rays of the sun reach his eyes, and he heard Kali's gentle voice. He woke and sat up, careful not to disturb the others, but what Aragorn said next made him freeze.
"Have you been thirsting for Legolas' blood? Is that why you fainted?" there was a pause then,
"I'm not sure, I think it's just because I've been getting really hungry lately, but I swear I would rather die than hurt anyone! Especially one of my friends." Legolas felt delighted to hear her call him a friend, but he didn't like what Aragorn said next,
"When it comes down to it you need blood to survive, if you had no other way of getting it would you drink a little from one of us?"
"I hope I never have to,"
"Can you get blood from someone without killing them?"
"Yes."
"If you have to drink from anyone, I'm always here. I don't want you to be put in any risk concerning your health."
"No. I will be fine, Aragorn."
Boramir sat up and rubbed his eyes, "Shall we get going then?"
They sat in the boat again for another day, but this time Merry and Pippin annoyed Boramir with the, 'Are we there yet?'s. Gimli tried to keep the conversation going in his boat but Legolas and Kali didn't talk all that much until Gimli said,
"I've been wondering lass, how you hunted that stag without a weapon. Did you wrestle it to the ground, clobber it over the head, or strangle it to death?" Legolas rolled his eyes, Dwarves…
Kali grinned mischievously, "I used poison."
Gimli nodded, "So you set a trap?"
"No, I bit it."
Gimli paled and turned backward to face the elf. He mouthed, she bit it?
Legolas stepped in to explain, "The Dead have venom so powerful that it can kill its prey within seconds. And they are the only creatures that can withstand it, no matter how tough you think you are Gimli, her venom could kill you just as easy as that deer."
"You think that I would succumb to a little poison! Let's see you try it Elf!" Gimli roared, almost tipping the boat.
Kali turned around and whacked him on the head, "It only comes out when I'm hungry or excited and you would die almost instantly, so no."
Gimli grumbled to himself and shifted his weight, causing the boat to rock, "Where would you bite something to kill it?"
"Depends, what animal?"
"Ur… a dwarf." Gimli said, attempting to cover up his uneasiness. Legolas chuckled.
"… Probably the neck. You do look a bit tough though… very chewy."
Gimli glared at her and Legolas laughed, "Don't try to eat Gimli, he would taste terrible!"
"If you bit me I wouldn't go down without a fight, make you have indigestion for years…" Gimli groused. "How about the elf? Where would you bite him?"
"Same place Gimli…" she sighed, "I really don't want to talk about this, so if you could please change the subject…" She said, losing all cheer in her voice.
After they had come to a stop shortly after midday, Aragorn had them tie the boats up and he told them, "We will continue on foot on the other side of the river tomorrow." They all agreed and split up. The Hobbits were setting up a fire to make some food, Frodo looked uneasy, Aragorn and Gimli gazed at the other shore restlessly, Boramir disappeared into the woods, muttering something about checking the surrounding area, and Kali watched as Legolas went to speak with Aragorn. As they were talking The Hobbits ran out of wood for their fire and Frodo volunteered to get more, as he left Kali desperately tried to remember what happened next in the story, she could have sworn it was something important…
"Where's Frodo?"
"And Boramir?"
Suddenly it hit her like a truck, (and she knew how that felt), "No! Orcs, Boramir, Ring, Frodo!" she tried to explain as best as she could and as fast. She frantically tried to calm herself, "The orcs aren't on that side, they're here!" Merry and Pippin started up and went into the woods without another word.
Aragorn clasped his hands on her shoulders keeping her steady, "Slowly, explain what you are trying to say." Legolas walked over, concern written on his features.
"The Orcs are on this side of the river,"
"And how do you know that?" Aragorn asked.
"I just do, trust me. Boramir will try to take the Ring from Frodo in a few seconds, just wait. You will hear his horn soon…" She trailed off into mumbling.
Aragorn thought that maybe that she just needed rest, but some part of him told him that she knew what she was saying. "You should get some rest," he said, patting her shoulder in a brotherly way and going back to sit next to Gimli.
"Are you sure you are alright?" Legolas asked, studying her face for tiredness.
"Fine, I'm fine…"
"I am worried for Mr. Frodo as well Miss. Kali, I'm going to go and look for him with you if that's where you are going."
Kali nodded and smiled in relief, "Let's go Sam."
The Elf, Man, and Dwarf watched as the last Hobbit and the girl disappeared into the trees together in silence.
"Do you think she sensed something?" Legolas asked Aragorn,
"Doubt it," Gimli grunted and took another look around.
Sam and Kali wandered through the forest together as they searched for Frodo; I hope I can find them in time… but will that change the course of the story if I do? Then the horn of Gondor echoed loudly a little ways off in the forest. "Mr. Frodo!" Sam called, starting to run toward the sound.
Legolas, Gimli and Aragorn sprang into action when they heard the call, then it blasted again. Aragorn grabbed pulled his sword on and ran at the same time toward the sound, "So turns out she was right!" he shouted to his companions as they ran through the forest together.
By the time she had reached the source of the sound, orcs were everywhere and Boramir was no longer in the same place. Surrounded on all sides by orcs, Kali fought as best as she could but she felt an orc blade cut her side, she screamed in pain. She fell to her knees and tried to defend herself, she crawled over to the ruin's wall and sat facing the attackers. Holding her knives up, she blocked more blows and dodged others, hissing in pain every time she twisted her side.
"Kali!" Legolas cried as he heard her scream, he took off in her direction, leaving Gimli and Aragorn running towards where the sound of the horn had been. They chased after the elf as he wove his way through trees to the ruins. When it came into view, he shot two orcs simultaneously and pulled two more arrows out of his quiver. Aragorn and Gimli charged straight on at the orcs, fighting fiercely with every orc in their path. Legolas found Kali at the bottom of the ruin, shooting any orc that got too close with an arrow; he ran towards her and killed three orcs in his way. He knelt down next to her and saw her wound, it was preventing her from standing, and she couldn't run, so he picked her up and carried her quickly away from the battle, planning on taking her back to the camp. But soon enough some of the orcs followed him and began to shoot arrows in their direction, several almost got them. Legolas set her down behind a fallen log, "Stay here," he said, then he whirled out and killed all of the orcs. He sent her one last glance then went back to help his comrades.
Kali was left dazed and confused, where had Sam gone? Was he alright? She worried to herself; I hope he and Frodo make it to the other side safely, she prayed. She then felt a pang of guilt, I have to get back to the others and help… maybe I can save Boramir before it's too late… She tried to get up but her side burned, making her gasp and groan in pain. Blood… I need blood, I'm losing so much… She staggered ungracefully to her feet and walked slowly and unsteadily toward the battle.
Merry and Pippin tried their best not to get killed and to protect Boramir, who had already taken several arrows, but they were captured and thrown over the shoulders of the orcs and carried away. By the time Aragorn came to the scene, Boramir was dying in a field of slain orcs, and the Hobbits were nowhere to be seen. When Legolas and Gimli came into the clearing they were shocked to find Boramir saying his last words to Aragorn. When Boramir had breathed his last, Aragorn kissed his forehead solemnly and the other two bowed their heads in respect to the fallen warrior. Then they heard a gasp from behind them, "I was… too late." Kali mumbled as she lurched forward, obviously in pain. Falling to her knees she cried, "No…"
Aragorn was at a loss for words as Legolas bent down and picked her up in his arms and let her cry into his tunic. They followed him as he quickly made for their camp, Aragorn and Gimli carrying Boramir between them all the way through the woods. Once they got to where their camp was they noticed one of the boats was missing. But instead of worrying about Frodo, Sam, and the Ring; Aragorn readied a canoe and put Boramir's body inside it with his sword still clasped in his hands. Then with a final farewell they sent him off into the current. Once that was done, Legolas turned to Kali, who was breathing heavily and holding a hand to her side. He moved her hand aside gently and he and Aragorn inspected the wound… that wasn't there. "It's gone…" Aragorn whispered, "There was a deep gash here, wasn't there?" Kali nodded and kept silent, still breathing hard.
"Does it still hurt?" Legolas asked in a worried tone that surprised even himself. He lightly touched the faint scar and Kali nearly screamed, but she was determined not to do that over something as silly as this.
Gimli frowned, "A scar shouldn't hurt that much."
"Gimli!" Aragorn and Legolas exclaimed sharply causing the dwarf to flinch.
Legolas grabbed Kali's pouch and dug in it and found Galadriel's gift, he pulled it out and undid the stopper. "Can't think of a better time to use it, can you?" when no one objected he poured the contents of it into her mouth. It was clear, and by the smell of it, it was cold mint tea. Aragorn quickly thought of all the properties that mint possessed; It cures headaches, it helps you focus, it is used to keep bad smells away, women use this to help with… Oh. That. She swallowed and gradually she seemed to get better and lose some of the pain. She sat up and swayed unstably, Aragorn put a hand on her back to keep her steady,
"I'm alright, I can stand, but I need to go and find an orc," she said breathlessly. Aragorn helped her to stand, she winced. Then she took a step without his aid, and another, soon she was walking into the woods alone. Worried, Legolas tried to follow her, but Aragorn held him back,
"She is in no condition to be roaming the woods alone and in pain, I am going too." He said looking determined to make sure Kali was alright.
Aragorn shook his head, "No, you do not want to be near her right now. Her hunger will probably triple and her temper will break easily, do not do anything to anger her." He directed this last part mostly at Gimli, but Legolas still looked unsure,
"Why?" Gimli asked,
Aragorn sighed, "She is going through what all women go through…"
Legolas paled and looked horrified; Aragorn was right, and if what she survived on was blood, she was going to be in terrible condition for the next few days.
Gimli, however, was still in the dark, "Pregnancy?" … Aragorn and Legolas stared in shock at his stupidity.
"No. You don't have to know Gimli." Aragorn said, partially amused that Gimli still didn't know. (And if there are any guys in the crowd; yes, hello… If you don't know what the heck is wrong with Kali, ask your Dad. But whatever you do, do not ask a woman, she will probably kill you.)
After several minutes Kali came back with some orc blood on her mouth, looking better and a little more relived. When she reached the group Legolas sprang into action, pulling the other boat to the river and exclaiming, "Hurry! Frodo and Sam have reached the other shore and are now far beyond us…" he looked behind him. Aragorn was looking out to the other bank, "Aragorn? Do we not follow?"
Kali knew that they wouldn't go after Frodo, but then continue to track the band of orcs that had taken Merry and Pippin, but she kept her mouth shut, waiting for Aragorn to stir some hope within the rest of the group. But he did not, Aragorn turned away from the river and Gimli sighed, "They are long gone by now Elf. Boramir and Gandalf are dead, and the two young Hobbits were taken. The Fellowship has failed,"
"No," Kali whispered, "no it hasn't." They all looked at her in silence, she looked up at them one by one, "We are still here, aren't we? Can't we still help? We may not be able to help Frodo get the ring to Mordor, but we can still save lives."
"How?" Gimli asked skeptically.
Aragorn leaned forward and smiled, putting his hand on her shoulder, she put her hand on his. "Merry and Pippin still need our help. The journey will be long…" Aragorn said. Legolas smiled and put his hand on Kali's shoulder, she smiled back at him. "And hard,"
Gimli came forth and put his hands on the Man and Elf's shoulder, "Yes!" he bellowed, and laughed and became more enthusiastic. Kali laughed and felt relieved, they would go after their friends, everyone would be alright. And so began their journey to rescue the Hobbits Merry and Pippin, and so began the separation of the Fellowship. "Let's hunt some Orc."