The next day, we set out on the river again. Boromir glares at me. I ignore his gaze and look up. The Argonath is coming closer and I smile. I tap Frodo on the shoulder.
,,Frodo, the Argonath! Long have I desired to look upon the kings of old." Frodo looks up at the two majestic statues carved straight out of the mountain. Their left arms are held out, proudly guarding the river Anduin. We pass the massive statutes, heading towards a waterfall, and climb out of the boats onto a gravel beach. We begin to make camp and there I notice Frodo looking disturbed. Boromir on the other hand looks more queer than ever. ,,We cross the lake at nightfall, hide the boats and continue on foot. We approach Mordor from the North." I announce.
,,Oh, yes. It's just a simple matter of finding our way through Emyn Muil?" Merry and Pippin look at Gimli with a confused look. They have never seen Emyn Muil.
,,What is Emyn Muil?" Sam dares to ask.
,,Oh, just an impassable labyrinth of razor sharp rocks." Gimli answers. ,,And it gets even better!" He yells sarcastically. Pippin looks up alarmed. I look at Gimli. ,,Festering, stinking marshlands as far as the eye can see!"
,,That is our road. I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength, master Dwarf." I tell Gimli.
,,Recover my -?" Gimli grunts. I take a seat next to Chloe, who is sitting by the fire. Legolas comes over as well.
,,We have to leave now." He says quietly to me.
,,No. Orcs patrol the Eastern shore. We must wait for cover of darkness." I say.
,,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!" I don't react and view our camp. Merry returns with some firewood, but Frodo is nowhere to be seen.
,,Where's Frodo?" Merry asks. Everyone looks around now, looking for the small hobbit.
,,Boromir!" Chloe says and points to Boromir's shield, sitting alone. Sam wakes up from his doze startled.
,,Split up! Look for Frodo and Boromir!" I say to everybody, as I take off into the forest, looking for Frodo. I scold myself for not keeping an eye on the two. I knew something was wrong about Boromir and Frodo isn't in a position to protect the ring on his own. I soon see signs of a struggle and hear a voice.
,,You'll go to your death and the death of us all! Curse you! Curse you and all the halflings!" Boromir shouts. I run to where the noise is coming from. Through a copse of trees I can see Boromir looking around frantically for the hobbit. He falls to the ground on his knees, sobbing now. ,,Frodo? What have I done? Please, Frodo?!" He calls out. ,,Frodo, I'm so sorry! Frodo!" I step back. I don't want to start a bad conversation with Boromir at the moment. I have to find Frodo. I run around Boromir, out of sight and soon find Frodo at a stone structure. I step with my foot on a stone.
,,Frodo?" He looks back at me.
,,It has taken Boromir." Frodo says, backing away from me.
,,Where is the ring?" I ask, stepping forward.
,,Stay away!" Frodo backs up more.
,,Frodo, I swore to protect you." I say. Frodo stops, breathing heavily and looks to the side a little. I follow his gaze and see Chloe watching us. Frodo turns his gaze back at me.
,,Can you protect me from yourself?" I look down at his hand, as Frodo opens it, revealing the ring. ,,Would you destroy it?" I slowly step forwards, hearing the ring call out my name, but I slowly shake my head and kneel to the hobbit's level. I close Frodo's hand with mine.
,,I would have gone with you to the end. To the very fires of Mordor." I put Frodo's hand against his chest and held my hands up in surrender.
,,I know. Look after the others, especially Sam. He will not understand." Frodo says now and I know exactly what he means. I look down and see his sword turn bright blue.
,,Go, Frodo." I say, standing up, grabbing my sword. ,,Run." He hesitates. ,,Run!" He doesn't hesitate now and runs away from me. I step out of the hiding place where Frodo and I just were and prepare myself to fight. A whole pack of Uruk-Hai comes near me, but I'm ready. Chloe is quick to join me in battle, but it takes Legolas and Gimli a few more minutes to join us. Legolas shoots arrow after arrow and Gimli swings his axe at every orc that comes near him.
,,Find the halfling!" The leader now yells and I jump down from the statue.
,,Neuma, go!" Legolas yells, knowing what I'm planning. He distracts the orcs, so I can prevent the orcs from finding Frodo. I trip the closest orc with my sword as I see Frodo hiding behind a tree now. I see Merry and Pippin distracting other orcs from finding Frodo and running away. No! We can not be separated! I tried to fight my way over to Merry and Pippin, but almost got pierced by a sword. Luckily Gimli was there before the orc could strike me. I grapple with another Uruk who has managed to grab me, but I'm quick to drop my sword, spin around and stab the Uruk in the back of the neck before he can harm me. Suddenly Chloe, Legolas, Gimli and I hear three short horn blasts from further away. I turn my head.
,,The horn of Gondor!" Legolas says.
,,Boromir!" I shout and start running towards the sound. Legolas, Chloe and Gimli follow me but are slowed down by more orcs. I run faster as I hear the horn again, louder. I fight off some orcs, but soon I see Boromir with Merry and Pippin at his side. I gasp at the sight. Boromir is fighting but he has an arrow in his body, in his shoulder. Another arrow lands in Boromir's stomach this time. Boromir gasps and falls to his knees. I put my hand over my mouth, then quickly kill another orc that attacks me, and look back at Boromir again. He keeps fighting. His horn is cloven in two and hangs at his side. I cut down another Uruk-Hai behind me and threw down my sword, grabbing a crude bow from a fallen Uruk and an arrow, turning to aim at the chieftain, who had already successfully put two arrows into Boromir, but I'm too late. Another arrow sticks out of Boromir's chest. He falls to his knees one last time and sways there, faintly blinking. The hobbits run forward shouting, but two orcs scoops them up and carry them off. I'm in shock. I was too late to save Boromir!
I try to chase after them, so I can at least save Merry and Pippin, but I'm blocked by even more orcs. I see the chieftain walk forward towards Boromir and is aiming a forth arrow at the dying man in front of him. My rage takes over and rushes forwards, jumping onto the Uruk just before he can strike. We fight vigorously and I lose my sword, while being thrown down. I manage to stab the Uruk in its leg, only to get slapped in the face. The Uruk holds me up and gives me a headbutt, causing me to fall down again. I step forward and dismember the Uruk's left arm, before sticking my sword in its chest. The Uruk grabs my sword and pulls it through himself, looking at me with rage. I withdraw my sword and cut off its head. The rest of its body falls to the ground, lifeless. I rush to Boromir's side, just as Legolas and Chloe arrive at the scene. Boromir has fallen to the ground, the arrows sticking out of him. I kneel beside him and Boromir grabs my shoulder.
,,They took the little ones."
,,Stay still."
,,Frodo. Where is Frodo?" Boromir asks frantically, breathing heavily because of his wounds.
,,I let Frodo go." I responded.
,,Then you did what I could not." Boromir says. ,,I tried to take the ring from him."
,,The ring is beyond our reach now." I tell him.
,,Forgive me. I did not see. I have failed you all."
,,No, Boromir. You fought bravely. You have kept your honor." I say and reach forward to remove the arrows.
,,Leave it!" Boromir says. ,,It is over. The world of men will fall. And all will come to darkness and my city to ruin."
,,I do not know what my path is yet, but I swear to you, I will not let the white city fall. Nor our people fail." I have never spoken of men as my people, but I am part human, so also bound to the fate of humans.
,,Our people?" Boromir asks me and I just nod. ,,Our people." He reaches for his sword and I grab it. I give it to Boromir and help him clasp it to his chest.
,,I would have followed you my sister… my captain… my queen." Boromir gasp out his last words and passes. I bow my head, touching my hand to my forehead and to my lips in respect.
,,Rest in peace, son of Gondor." I say. Now Gimli arrives at the scene and when he sees Boromir he just bows his head. I stand up. ,,They will look for his coming at the white tower, but he will not return." I say, knowing Chloe, Legolas and Gimli are nearby. Chloe comes over and pulls an arrow out of Boromir's lifeless body.
,,Sorry, I just couldn't bear to look at the black shafts and feathers sticking out." She apologies as I look at her. I wipe away a tear as I feel Chloe put a hand over mine. I don't think twice and just bury my head in her shoulder. Chloe holds me for a moment before I look down at Boromir again.
,,Ha's all nin fault ( It's all my fault )." I say quietly. Chloe looks at me confused. I look up into her eyes. ,,Im rushed nia hi sui fast sui im could ( I rushed over here as fast as I could ), but I was too late." Chloe wipes away a tear on my cheek.
,,Don't say that, please. We need to find the hobbits before this happens to them." My head sinks down again.
,,I could've saved them." I sob. ,,I didn't. I let them go. I -" Chloe places a finger on my lips. I loop up as our eyes meet. She gives me a slight kiss.
,,Hi wasn't cín fault ( This wasn't your fault )." She whispers against my lips before releasing me. She rests her forehead against mine, just as Gimli and Legolas kneel down together next to Boromir to remove the last arrows from Boromir's body.