"They've caught up with us." Boromir unsheathed his sword.

"Gideon." I gasped, remembering seeing him go off on his own to tie up snares. "Frodo." I looked around me, trying to sense where they may be, and where our threat was approaching from. "We have to find them."

Boromir changed, his nature being restored to how it had been when we pulled up on the shore. He grabbed my wrist. "We'll go find Frodo and your brother." He said. "Have your blade ready, Fali." I nodded, grabbing my sword from my belt. "This way." Boromir motioned for me to follow. I was at his heels soon.

"Gideon?! Frodo?! Sam?!" I shouted as we ran back.

"Do not call so much attention to us." Boromir warned. Something ahead of us rustled in the trees, an unrefined sword poking through the leaves. Boromir grabbed my shoulder and pulled me to the left, hiding us away down another trail. "Do not shout." He hissed under his breath. "Not a sound, Fali."

"I need to find Gideon." I whispered back, lowly. "He went off on his own."

"We will find him." Boromir promised. "Him and Frodo and everyone else. Now stay low."

I lowered myself closer to the ground as orcs burst past us, heading into the heart of the forest. "On my command." Boromir said, seeming to take me under his wing. He held up a hand in waiting, keeping watch on the approaching orcs. "Now!" He commanded, and we leapt up from the ground, blades raised, and eyes sharp.

I rushed forward and swung directly as the first orc in my path. My shorter stature landed my strike at his midsection, the side of which was mortally wounded. The orc knelt over in pain, his hand covering a rush of dark blood that began to flow quickly. I hurried to deliver similar assault to the expose shoulder of the orc, driving my blade home sideways into his chest. When I drew my weapon back, the orc fell. I hurried to defend myself from the second orc, which was prepared to leap upon me. I slipped to my knees briefly, dodging off to the side ,and cutting into his leg. The orc fell, and Boromir turned to quickly finish the job with a strike through the back of the orc's armour.

The party that had found us was small, only eight or nine of the creatures having come this way. With relief I noticed their clean swords. "They have no blood on their weapons." I smiled, some part of me easing.

"Gideon and Frodo may be unharmed still." Boromir nodded. "Quickly, this way."

/

I was accustomed to going off on my own now, but something about this time felt so…off. As though a nameless, intangible thing was watching me in the trees. I tried to shrug off the feeling of being watched and followed, and attempted to focus on the work at hand. My fingers soon found the practise of tying the rope familiar after not having performed it for days. I tied the length of rope deep within a bush, and hoped for a rabbit.

Common as rabbit was, it kept well and it would be welcome after the lack of hunting we'd had recently. I'd do what I could. Perhaps I should have asked Legolas to come alongside me, arrows were bound to more successful than snares. Quicker as well. But I remembered the hard look he had given me when I had mentioned Tauriel. It was still something of a sensitive subject, the way she had left Mirkwood so suddenly to follow my uncle into our mountain kingdom had been shocking at the time. She had often spoke of the close friendship between herself and the prince of Mirkwood, going back centuries to when she was a young girl.

There was rumor he may have even loved her…

No doubt being surrounded by children from the company of dwarves that helped to take her away was trying to his patience. Especially her partly dwarvish niece and nephew.

If that was the case, he was being far more pleasant toward us than a dwarf would have been under similar circumstances. Loyal as we were, we could certainly hold a grudge.

"Look out! Arm yourself!"

I froze, my ears catching the sound of metal and inhuman roars. I suddenly felt very small and very alone, and the world and the sounds of an approaching fight swirling around me in the wind.

Mahal. Not again. No, no, no. Not again.

I touched the hilt of my blade, but my hand was shaking too fiercely for me to hold onto anything. I gulped, and ran off farther into the trees, deserting the snare I had just tied. I could not be left alone out here to fight on my own. I would not stand a chance against a small hoard of orcs that would come racing toward me.

I had to hide. I ran, before spotting an overhang of roots, much like the one Fali, the hobbits and I had hid under when the Wraith was hunting us down. I dashed under the tree, pressing myself against the damp earth at the back of my hiding place. I could hear more yells, both orc and from those in the Fellowship. I could make out Aragorn, who leading them all into the fight.

I sat in my hole in the ground, feeling like the earth could swallow me up.

I was such a coward.

And then I heard someone approaching…

/

Boromir let no harm come to me. When an orc scout jumped into our path he cut him down instantly, and lifted me up a degree, over the fallen body so I would not trip.

"He has to be out here somewhere." I huffed out, a little breathless and speaking of Gideon. "He wouldn't have gone out so far just to tie up a few snares."

"There is no sign of Frodo." Boromir replied.

"He may have ran back to the others." I said.

"No, he was frightened." Boromir shook his head. "he may be still wearing the Ring." I frowned at that news. It was not good for Frodo to wear the Ring at all…yet in this case it would keep him protected. I did not know what was for the best. I only hoped he'd suddenly pop out of the trees and then Boromir and I could put the hobbit in between us, and run off to find Gideon to do the same.

"We'll have to split up." Boromir said. "There's no telling where they are hiding. We'll increase our chances of finding them safely if we go off on our own."

"Our own?" I asked, a bit surprised. "But we could find them together couldn't we?"

"Aye, but it's no guarantee we'll find them in time." Boromir said. "I'll go this way, you head farther out."

He made to leave but I flinched and grabbed hold of his sleeve. "Boromir…"

"Do not tell me you're doubting yourself now." He said, not harshly, but almost in a comforting ton, the way a sparring instructor may have spoken. "You did so well in Moria."

"But I was not alone there." I replied.

"It is hard to stand alone…" He nodded. "It is hard to draw courage when there is no one else to look too." He looked at me seriously. "But think of Gideon, and Frodo, alone and maybe even unarmed out there. Someone must come to aid them." He smiled. "No matter what happens, you must find a way to stand alone." His eyes smirked at me. "I'm sure you'll be able to, with that fire in you."

"Thank you." I mumbled.

"Go, Fali." He urged me. "Hurry. Keep your eyes alert, any movement and you strike, do you understand?"

"Aye." I nodded.

"And stay brave, understand?" He said, his hands clenching my shoulders. "Don't think about what there is to be afraid of, just swing and strike as your body tells you to."

"Aye." A second nod.

"Good." He said. "Off with you now." He sent me away, with a light shaking of my shoulders.

"Boromir?" I called to him as we ran off in separate directions. He turned his head back. "You'll come find us later, won't you?"

"Aye, I'll find you." He nodded. "Now go!"

I did, running off with my blade raised as he had told me to do.

Gideon…

Frodo…

I ran until I could hardly hear the noise of the fighting back at the camp. "Gideon!" I shouted. "Frodo!" There was no reply, and it worried me greatly. Where were they? Why did they not answer me? Were they far off or had they…I shook my head and kept running, feeling as though I may be going in circles with my disorienting frenzy to find them.

My foot brushed against something and from within a bush a contraption of rope sprung up. A snare. Gideon's snare. "Gideon!" I called, and then ran off in the direction I thought he may have gone. "Please…" I panted with lack of breath. "Please…"

Something moved, from the base of a tree. I froze, and pointed my sword ahead of me. There was the light scuffling of something moving along the ground as I neared and then…

"Fali?" The word was hushed, and from my place I could see a pair of blue eyes looking up at me from beneath an entanglement of tree roots.

"Gideon." I cried out, happy and relieved. He sprang up from under the tree and his arms were around my shoulders.

"What happened?" He asked.

"I know as little as you do." I said. "I was with Boromir when we heard shouting from camp. There were some orcs that came our way. I have not seen any since we went off in different directions. We are far from camp now." I pulled on his arm, but he pulled it back from my grasp.

"We're not going back that way, are we?"

"Frodo disappeared." I said. "We must find him."

"Disappeared as in he is lost, or disappeared as in…?"

I frowned. "He wore the Ring." I replied quietly.

"Fali, it could be drawing orcs to him, just as it did the Wraiths." My brother pleaded for my safety.

"Maybe, but we do not yet know." I said. "They are not as smart of the Wraiths were, I think." I gave Gideon's shoulder a comforting shake. "Draw your sword. Frodo needs us." He looked uneasy. "Be brave." I said, repeating Boromir's words. "Don't think about what there is to fear. It's easier to move along that way."

"If we go back to camp, we should run the longer trail along the shore." Gideon relented the smallest bit. "It will be safer there."

"Very well." I agreed.

I grabbed his wrist. "Keep alert." I reminded him, and we began our journey back to the shoreline. The closer we got to our camp, the more noise we could hear, loud, insistent, and unfortunately seeming to be coming nearer to us. I saw a dark blur in the trees, and prepared myself. Another orc jumped forth, this time striking dowanwards and forcing me to abandon my previous attack, dodging away. The blade followed me and I turned to black the sstrike. The metal clashed, just as another orc roared, coming out of the trees. "Gideon!" I shouted for his help.

Gideon drew up his sword into a defensive stance, one he held strongly beside me. His eyes were wide, staring into the snarling, disfigured face of the orc. I dared to meet my attackers gaze as well, and found streaks and spatters of white paint upon it's face. Something that resembled a hand.

We were handling the attack well, until a third orc joined the first two, outnumbering us. I thought quickly, and hurried to slide from the block I was in, moved quickly to the side, and managed to stab past the tough bindings of the orc's armour, puncturing it's ribcage. I did not even wait to see if it was dead, flinging myself into another defensive stance before the third orc could kill one of us.

Gideon was now struggling, trying to strike at his enemy, managing to give him a small cut or bounce his sword off the armour on its chest, and then going back into a defensive stance to prevent himself from cutting cut down.

"Strike, Gideon!" I shouted, and he stabbed at the creature, his sword sinking deeply into the side of the orc. As it fell, Gideon was still, his blade still embedded in its flesh.

I delivered a fatal blow to the orc I was fighting. "It's dead, draw back your sword." I said, gently.

"Mister Frodo!" Our heads both turned in the same direction.

"That was Sam." I said, panic in my voice. "Hurry, he sounds like he's in distress."

We ran again, our legs starting to feel the energy draining from them. The trees thinned and the gravel filled sand crunched under our boots. My gaze was fixed upon the river, and I beheld Frodo, sitting in a boat, and pulling a drenched Sam out of the river.

"Frodo!" I all but shrieked. "Sam!"

They looked up, startled by my scream. I began to wave my arms. "Come back!" I yelled to them. They said nothing in reply, just looked disheartened and let the boat turn around farther out in the river.

"What are they doing?" I asked to Gideon. "Why are they leaving?"

"Frodo must be taking the guest up on his own." Gideon said, trying to calm me. "Surely you noticed how he has changed. He's far more solitary, and restless. The Ring has caused him a lot of worry. It'll be easier for him with just Sam."

"He's going to Mordor?! With Sam?!" I gasped. I raced to where my bag lay and snatched it up.

"Fali, what are you doing?" Gideon was suddenly worried.

I gave him an apologetic look. "I'm so sorry…" I said. "I wish I had more time, but they're already picking up the oars."

"You're leaving too?! You're going with them?!"

"I have too." I said, making my way to the water already.

Gideon grabbed me firmly by my arm. "No, you don't." He almost snapped at me. "It's Frodo and Sam's own choice."

"It's also my own choice." I fought back, temper threatening to flare. I quenched it down quickly. If this was to be a goodbye I would not spoil it with smart remarks. I took a steadying breath. "Gideon, please, it's Frodo and Sam. Two hobbits, on their way through Mordor? The chances of us making it there all together were slim to start with. They'll need help. This is worth more than just Frodo and Sam, this is about the Ring, and having it destroyed once and for all."

He frowned. "I know I said you'd have me throughout this journey and you still can…you can come with me and…"

"I do not want to leave." He replied, quietly.

"I'm so sorry." I said again. "You never would have done something like this if I hadn't pulled you along." He nodded, quiet. I tried to sound optimistic for him once more. "They have the Ring. If they do intend to complete this quest on their own, then the Fellowship is broken." I smiled slightly. "You'll be free Gideon. You could go home with the others. The adventure will be over for you, if you want it to be."

"And what about you?" He asked.

"I don't know." I said honestly. "But I can't go home without knowing Frodo and Sam are safe. I suppose I'll be finally setting things right, taking up adventure because I wanted to, and letting you do as you wish." I glanced over to the river. "If you intend to let me go, you better release me now, or else I'll never be able to swim out to them."

He paused, eyes darting between the shore and the river and me.

He let go, slowly.

"Thank you." I said, and threw my arms tightly around his shoulders. His kissed my forehead. I returned the gesture. "I will come back." I swore, with determination in my voice.

I ran off, splashing into the water, and quickly propelling myself through the river to the boat.

Boromir would not be able to find us later, but he would be happy that I had found Frodo and not let the hobbits go off on their own.

"Fali!" Frodo shouted, almost scolding me.

"Miss Fali!" Sam was shocked. He picked up an oar and shoved it in my direction, splashing the top of my head with water. I approached them, and ceased the furious kicking of my legs, and reach out through the forming current to grab hold of the oar. The hobbits pulled me close enough to the boat to safely climb inside, just as it caught the current.

I was drenched, but that did not stop me from snapping at the two of them like they were children as I took hold of my skirt and began to wring it out over the side of the boat. "Just what were you thinking?" I demanded. "Are you addled in the head?"

"We could ask you the same, Miss Fa-" Sam bagan.

A glare from me cut him short. "I wouldn't be soaking wet and in this boat right now if you two weren't going off on your own." I lightened my tone a little. "It's dangerous out there, and neither of you have had any training in your lives." I hardened my look again. "And if either of you thought for a second that I would just let you go off into Mordor on your own, then I know you're addled in the head."

"I didn't want anyone else to come with me." Frodo replied. "Not even Sam."

"You were thinking you'd go off entirely alone?" I gasped. "And you jumped into the river to follow him?" I turned to Sam. "Sam, you don't even know how to swim."

Sam looked a little sheepish, realising what he had put himself through.

"Frodo, I don't think you'd be able to stand alone on a journey like this." I said, bringing up Boromir's words.

He stared at his feet.

"Are you that angry with me?" I asked. "I only wanted to help keep you safe."

"No." He replied, and there was a small, but thankful smile. "I'll be glad to have you. I just didn't want to endanger anyone."

"I'd walk through fire for you, my friend." I grinned back. "Water was far easier a challenge."

I turned around to see our disappearing camp. Gideon stood there, very much alone. He waved his arm to me. I waved back.

It would be a long time before I saw him again, and by then, much would have changed.

I don't like splitting siblings up, but since Frodo and Fali have been friends for such a long time, she'd want to follow him and keep him and Sam protected. Gideon also needs to lose Fali in order to face his own demons and be put in a situation where he has to rely on himself and grow. Also, I've always thought it a bit unfair how 10th walkers etc always seem to focus on Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, and then Frodo and Sam are gone. They're loveable (and super important) characters, and I don't want to lose them.