She was gone. I watched her float away, our arms waving at one another for a full minute before they disappeared along the river. I felt light, almost too light. As if she had been an anchor and now I was some boat floating off on the river too, nothing to hold me in place or keep me from slipping over the nearby falls.

I had no idea what to do without her, and in that moment I saw how much I had been leaning on Fali for some sort of guidance and strength.

I had to shake myself from my mental blankness, and force my mind to start working again. Reeling, I ran off from the shore again. The forest was much quieter now, the orcs must have been killed off or fled.

"Aragorn!" I called out, hoping to find the others unharmed. "Aragorn!"

There was a roar from behind me, as a hidden orc jumped from the bushes on a ridge above me. I whirled around, my sword hurrying to crash against a serrated blade that he held. He thrust me and my sword aside, and I was flung into the ground, my head banging against part of an unearthed root. Lights exploded in front of my eyes from the impact, and I blinked wildly to clear my sight, darkness mixing with the snapping lights, disorienting me. When my sight cleared enough, I could see only the gory, blue face of an orc, one that looked like he had great fangs protruding from its mouth.

He was taller, bolder, than his kin in Moria.

I tried to swing my sword out to protect myself, defend myself in whatever way possible. The orc stepped on my forearm, the metal on its boots pressing into my skin.

My heart pounded, flying up into my throat. I struggled, trying to reach or kick or pull myself away violently. The serrated sword was drawn back, my heart squeezed, icy adrenaline freezing up my entire chest.

There was a subtle whistle in the air, a much more noticeable thud of an arrow embedding into flesh, and a light crack. The orc let out a groan of pain and then collapsed, falling next to me with an arrow in the back of its neck. I sat up, jumping quickly to my feet.

Legolas and Gimli were just over the next hill, and quickly sprinting toward me. "There's more!" Gimli shouted. I broke out into a run, as the two of them followed. They stopped by the body of the fallen orc who had tried to kill me and prepared to face the rest of the orcs, seven or so. Legolas stepped upon the shoulder blade of the dead orc and pulled the sturdy arrow from it's neck to use again, firing it into an oncoming attacker.

"Where is Aragorn?!" I shouted back at them, noticing the absence of the ranger.

"He went off on his own!" Gimli shouted back. He let out a sort of battle cry, and then swung his axe into the calf of an orc. "He's ahead, no doubt."

I ran in that direction. "Where are you running off to?!" Gimli shouted after me, but dismissed me when the last few orcs got too close and he had to focus on where he aimed his axe to slip it in between their armour.

"Aragorn!" I shouted. I heard nothing from him, and kept running. I was wandering just how far he might have gone out when I saw a corpse of an orc on the forest floor, in worse condition than most that we had killed. This one was…had been, more correctly…taller than most of his kind, and had a warrior's build.

Besides that he was bleeding out his dead body from several punctures, and where his arm and head had been severed. Luckily the face was looking into the ground now and I was spared that image.

The corpse made me slow down just enough to notice the two men at the base of a tree. "Aragorn…Boromir." I called out to them.

Aragorn looked back at me and that is when I saw the arrows, stuck in Boromir's chest.

"Boromir!" I ran a bit closer, but did not kneel beside him as Aragorn did. I saw his pale face and the blood staining his clothes and the fact that he could even breath through all that pain had me in shock and I could not come any closer.

"Fali…" He gasped out the name of my sister. "Where is Fali?" He implored. "Did she find you?"

"Yes." I answered quickly, and nodded. "Yes, she did."

"Where is she…now?" He winced as he drew in a larger breath.

"She has left." I said, informing him and Aragorn both. "Frodo and Sam went off on their own, and she went after them."

"Good." He breathed. "She will keep them safe."

""The Ring is beyond our reach now." Aragorn said.

"Forgive me. I did not see it. I have failed you all." Boromir apologized as he lay dying.

"No, Boromir, you fought bravely! You have kept your honor." Aragorn assured him quickly. The moments were fast and fleeting now, yet they also seemed to stretch, as if time was slowing down. Aragorn reached to pull the arrows from Boromir's chest.

"Leave it." Boromir swatted his hand away. "It is over."

"Aye, it will only encourage more bleeding." My mind was numb, and now resorting to reiterating bits of knowledge from all those texts I had read before. Pulling out one of the arrows now would kill him within a moment…and the agony of having it ripped out would likely cause him to lose consciousness in his last moments. Whether that would be a blessing or a curse I didn't know.

"Gideon…" He looked over to me. "Fali believed you could do this. You must prove her right." He said. I felt a deep pang of sympathy for him then. I had always thought Boromir thought little of me on this journey. I had not done much, or fought as well as the others. I had not acknowledged that he may have had faith in me.

"I will." I said, quietly, choosing to agree with him. Now was not the time to be voicing the doubts I still had for myself, or the fact that our Fellowship had been dissolved and our responsibilities for Frodo and the Ring were gone with them.

"It is over." Boromir repeated. "The world of men will fall, and all will come to darkness… and my city to ruin."

"I do not know what strength is in my blood…" Aragorn began to vow. "…but I swear to you I will not let the White City fall… nor our people fail." He promised Boromir. Those words were spoken by an heir and not just a ranger.

"Our people?" Boromir asked. He smirked a little. "Our people." He agreed. He reached out for his sword, which had fallen from his grasp. He clutched at the hilt and Aragorn gently helped him place the blade proudly over his chest. "I would have followed you my brother… my captain… my king." Boromir said proudly.

His chest shuddered with the effort of breathing, and then his entire person relaxed, settling peacefully on the ground.

He was gone.

I looked away. I couldn't look on his face the way Aragorn could, not with his eyes still open. "Be at peace, son of Gondor." Aragorn said quietly, and then bent and kissed Boromir's forehead. I was reminded of the farewell between Fali and I only a few minutes ago, for we had done the same. A fond goodbye between siblings.

Legolas and Gimli came running over, having killed off the last of the orcs that had remained. The elf looked sadly over the two men, and Gimli bowed his head a little and looked away a moment later, letting out a sigh.

"They will look for his coming from the White Tower. But he will not return." Aragorn said, as he stood again.

"We should go find Merry and Pippin." I spoke softly.

"We have already searched for them." Legolas replied. "There was no sign of them."

"They were taken." Aragorn replied. "Boromir defended them, as best he could." He glanced over me quickly and then added "Frodo and Sam have left, Fali has gone with them."

/

We placed Boromir in an empty boat, his sword still clasped to his chest, his horn, now split beside him, and his shield by his head. The belt buckle gifted by Lady Galadriel shined at his waist. We launched the boat out to the river, and watched as if floated along, traveling over the falls with our companion.

Legolas and Gimli hurried to gather our supplies and place it into the last remaining boat. I was grabbing my own things, settling it all into my bag. I looked up to Aragorn. "Do you think I could take a wafer of lembas?" I asked.

"Your own?" Aragorn asked. I nodded. "What for?"

"For the journey home." I replied.

"You're leaving?"

I nodded again, slowly. "There is nothing more we can do for Frodo, now that he has left."

"You give this quest up then?" He raised an eyebrow at me.

"Well…" I faltered.

"I am not forcing you to make any decision." Aragorn held up his hand as he approached me. "But I heard you say you would prove yourself to Boromir." He looked me over. "You look like a good man." He paused. "And a man with honor would fulfill his words."

A great internal debate began in my head, one side telling me that I had quietly promised a dying man I would try to prove myself by finishing this quest. Another side was saying that the quest was ended anyway, and there was nothing more to be done. Yet another side was telling me half of that promise was to Fali, and then that Fali had released me of this duty.

That she'd want me to stay.

That Boromir was dead, and would never know if I fulfilled my words or not.

That I was afraid, once again.

"Hurry, Frodo, Fali and Sam have reached the eastern shore." Legolas said, pushing the boat farther out into the water.

Aragorn faced him and stood still, then shook his head a little.

"You mean not to follow them?" Legolas asked.

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

"Then it has all been in vain." Gimli sighed. "The Fellowship has failed."

"Not if we hold true to each other. We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death. Not while we have strength left." He grabbed their shoulders. He glanced behind at me. "What say you, Master Gideon? Will you be joining us?"

"I…" I fumbled. I wanted to return home more than anything. To wear the small accomplishment I had for making it this far safely, and then mourn the loss of my companions and hope for the safety of my sister.

"There is a boat left, should you decide to leave." Aragorn told me, in a quiet tone. "If you decide to make the journey back, you make it alone."

Alone. Could I make the journey alone? I had not anticipated for Boromir to die and for Merry and Pippin to be taken. I had thought I'd have others with me on the journey back. Now there looked like there would be no journey back unless I took it up myself. Home was far off…and there may still be orcs and other nasty creatures out there.

I had promised Boromir.

I had promised a dying man.

Was I a man of honor?

What would I even be able to manage? What could I even do?

"Leave all that can be spared behind. We travel light. Let us hunt some Orc!" Aragorn said, determined. He turned and went off into the trees again, cloak flying behind him with his speed. Legolas and Gimli grinned at one another.

The dwarf and elf took off after him. Gimli glanced back at me for a moment, but then shrugged and left me beside the boat. It was already halfway in the water and watering patiently for me to make my choice.

The struggle returned to my mind. Honor versus fear. My promise versus my doubt. Lady Galadriel had not been lying in the least when she had said my doubt troubled me greatly.

I wanted to return to my home and my family. Would they not be overjoyed to see me?

It was this fatal thought that ended up making my choice.

I would return alone…and Mother and Father would never forgive me for abandoning Fali so, or for giving up what I had started. Never mind the image I would have given Erebor as a prince, I was far more concerned with the image I bestowed upon my parents as their son. They had taught me better.

I could not go back without Fali beside me, or at least with the knowledge that she was safe.

Honor and promises won out, overshadowing my doubt long enough for me to shove the unneeded boat into the river, so it could float beyond my reach before I had the chance to change my mind. I watched it go off, wondering if I had made the right choice, and then turned and ran to join the others.

"Aragorn! Gimli! Legolas!" I called, hoping that the distance between us was no too great and I was now stranded on the shore. Eventually, the trees had decent enough gaps in between them for me to see them, looking like grey shadows in the cloaks given by the elves. "Wait!" I shouted more loudly than ever. Aragorn stopped, and this caused Legolas and Gimli to stop. I was waving my arm back and forth to capture their attention through the trees and then came running forward, my breath a bit shorter now, and my hand shaking on the hilt of my sword.

"I'm coming." I huffed out in a breath. "I'm com…coming too." I wheezed a little. Aragorn stepped forward, leaving the side of Gimli and Legolas to come and greet me.

"For a moment, I thought the boat would be the more welcoming option for you." He said, placing his hand on my shoulder. It was meant to be a friendly gesture, but it also served to keep my frame upright.

"I promised Boromir…I would prove myself." I took in a great breath. "I can't promise I'll be very good…" I went on. "But I'll not slow you down, I'll make sure of that." I grimaced the smallest bit. "And I couldn't go back without knowing Fali was alright. It would tear open my parent's hearts. It wouldn't reflect very well on me either…leaving my younger sister to go off to Mordor and returning home to a nice, safe mountain. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I did that to Fali, or our family."

Aragorn nodded, understandingly.

"I know Merry and Pippin were more Fali's friends than mine, but they were part of the Fellowship, so I can't forsake them, even when the Fellowship is now broken." I sighed. "It is all duty really…I can't escape it."

"There are not many who can." Aragorn replied. "In terms of good men, at least."

"I'm sorry." I suddenly apologized. "I know I've tried not to reveal it but…I did not wish to be part of the Fellowship at all."

"You did say quests were not one of your skills." Aragorn nodded, and I remembered the day Fali had engaged me in a fight before Lord Elrond, winning me my place here. I had been speaking with Aragorn right before, and had shared my doubt with him.

"I've been dying to return home ever since we left for Rivendell." I knew it was almost as much complaining as it was confessing, but I cared little. "From the Shire, before we even met you and knew you as 'Strider'. I felt like I had no place, and I only wanted to return to somewhere safer."

"And now?"

"Now I am bound by duty, and even when I have the chance to go, I find I cannot. Not without a burdened conscience." I added, more quietly. "And I cannot find it within me to make the journey back alone either." I admitted.

A fine addition I was proving to be again, I thought to myself with some bitter sarcasm.

Aragorn looked at me seriously. "Whatever you're reasons for coming, I am glad you have decided to join us." He said. "Now come, we must hurry if we wish to track them down."

He turned, and I took Fali's place following in his shadow, breaking into a steady run when the others did. I had promised to keep up with them and I intended too. I would not make myself a burden to them, certainly not with the lives of Merry and Pippin at stake. If I was to prove myself for Boromir and Fali I would have to start somewhere, and making sure the remaining Fellowship wasn't slowed by myself was a good place to start.

That and I feared what would happen to me if I fell so far behind I was lost, and then truly stranded and left for dead.

I exerted such effort while trying to keep my pace up, in fact pushing myself to keep a small degree ahead to make up for everything I felt I had done poorly, that I was extremely fatigued when the night fell upon us. When it was too dark to see on our own anymore, Aragorn halted us.

"Make a fire." He said. "As quickly as you can." Gimli set to this task at once. "Just a small one Gimli."

I felt I should be helping in some way, but my legs trembled when they ceased moving, and the muscles in them quickly gave a brief spasm and then I collapsed to a sitting position by a rock.

My head fell back against the surface of the rock, my whole body slumping down. Aragorn spotted this. "Don't become too comfortable, Master Gideon." He said. "We'll be moving on again in half an hour, at the most."

"What?" I asked, head snapping back up.

"They have gotten far ahead of us. Time is of great importance. We cannot rest yet."

At this I stood, not wishing to tempt myself with sleep when I would not be able to have it for a few more hours yet. I groaned internally, my legs feeling as thick as stone, and just as heavy. My eyelids felt like lead and my mind was slowing down, not thinking much apart from deciding I should not push myself like that again. If we were to keep this pace up over the next few days I would need to become used to it, and that would mean bracing myself.

"Master Gideon?" Aragorn asked again. I focused my attention back to Aragorn, who was crafting a torch for us to see by.

"Yes?" I asked.

Aragorn laid down the torch he was making. He came up to me, rummaging through his own bag. He tore a small corner of lembas from one of the wrapped pieces. "Here, eat." He passed it to me. "It will help."

I accepted the bread. "Thank you." I replied, placing the entire piece in my mouth and chewing slowly.

"We will continue on the trail for a few more hours." He said. "Then we will rest until daybreak."

I nodded, quiet.

"You may have the last watch this time." Aragorn informed me.

"Thank you." I repeated. In giving me the last watch I would able to go right to sleep when we finally stopped, and not be interrupted; only having to rise a little earlier.

"You will become used to it soon." Aragorn promised me, giving my shoulder a small shake.

There was a small spark of light, as Gimli's pile of twigs became alight. Aragorn poured some oil that the elves had given us over the torch and then touched it to the flames. The torch light up, and he crushed the small fire beneath his boot so the sparks would not burn down the whole forest. "Come, they went this way." He said, and we followed him once more.

I was thrust back into adventure again; if anything this time it was more on my own accord than the previous occurrences. I did not very well know what was going to happen to me, or if I was doing alright, but I focused on keeping within sight of the others and not collapsing into a tired heap on the ground.

I had passed from under the comforting and protective wing of Fali, and was migrating under the wing of Aragorn. I knew he would be more serious than my sister, but would at least be able to keep me safe at times. He was forgiving now, but I did not believe this would continue on for much longer than a day or two. Lives were in danger, I would have to grow used to the new circumstances quickly.

So long as I did not cause more trouble than I was worth, I would be able to stay under his wing.