▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞 ━︎━︎ 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐅𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 river for a day before making landfall. Ellaria instantly made her way into the forest, gathering wood to make them a small fire, one that wouldn't attract the enemy. They would only keep it until they went to sleep. She came back out with her arms full, dropping them on the ground and organizing them before lighting a fire with flint and steel. She stared into the orange flame for a moment before walking away. She sat down, leaning her back against a tree and staring at the river. She turned her head when footsteps approached, a small smile pulling on her lips as Legolas sat down beside her, his bran new bow Galadriel had given him laying in his lap.

"Can I see it?" Ellaria asked, nodding to the weapon. He nodded and she reached forwards and grabbed it, weighing it in her hands. She examined the intricate details carved into the bow, testing the strength of the string. "It is a beautiful bow, one rightfully suited for the best archer in the land." She handed it back to him and he replaced it on his lap. "You never answered my question the other night."

Legolas furrowed his brows. "When?"

"When we were trying to figure out how to enter Moria." Ellaria softly said. "When I asked what had stopped you from visiting." She turned her head, leaning it against the tree and meeting his eyes. "I did miss you, you know. We used to be inseparable, visiting each other as often as possible. And then suddenly. . . suddenly the battle at the mountain happened and we haven't seen each other since. Where did you go?"

Legolas held her eyes, the moonlight making them a bit brighter, showcasing the sadness underneath. "To find myself," he finally answered. "You were right. All those years ago, you were right about me. I knew nothing but my fathers orders. I listened to him blindly. I hurt you. I should've listened to you." He reached out, grabbing her hand. Ellaria glanced down at their hands before meeting his eyes again. "You told me that when I finally opened my eyes and saw the truth to come find you. I found you and my eyes are clearer than they have ever been."

Ellaria swallowed, her heart was beating rapidly in her chest. She squeezed his hand and said, "I'm glad you did." She turned her gaze towards the river, forcing away her feelings that have been brewing since they'd met. "You should get some rest. I'll keep watch." When she felt him hesitate she turned to him and gave him a small smile. Finally, he nodded and stood, leaving his bow with her.

As the sun rose the next morning Ellaria, who had climbed into a tree for a better advantage, jumped down and began waking her companions. They climbed back onto the boats and continued their trek down the river. They were rowing for a long while, coming across two large statues. The Argonath. Two kings of old, holding out their hands as if to stop something from entering. They rowed between the two statues, continuing forwards until they reached a waterfall and pulled onto land once more.

Ellaria climbed out, looking around before noticing Frodo had paused. She walked over to him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. He snapped his head towards her before he relaxed. She gave him a soft smile before continuing forwards. They made another fire as Aragorn explained their next move.

"We cross the lake at nightfall, hide the boats, and continue on foot. We approach Mordor from the North." Ellaria moved to stand beside the Ranger, glancing at Legolas as he stared into the forest.

"Oh, yes?" Gimli asked in disdain. "Just a simple matter of finding our way through Emyn Muli, an impassable labyrinth with razor-sharp rocks? And after that, it gets even better. Festering, stinking marshlands, far as the eye can see."

"That is our road." Aragorn said with indifference. "I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength, Master Dwarf."

"Recover my―︎" Gimli scoffed.

Legolas approached Aragorn and Ellaria, worry on his face. "We should leave now."

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

Legolas looked back towards the forest. "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."

Merry walked out from the forest, dropping a pile of wood before looking around. "Where's Frodo?"

Ellaria instantly grew alert, glancing around before noticing another absence. "And where's Boromir?" She said the sentence quietly, loud enough only for Legolas and Aragorn to hear. She forced her shoulders to relax as she looked at Merry. "I'll go find him, Merry. I'm sure he's just gathering more wood." Ellaria entered the woods, keeping her movements calm until she was out of sight of the others and then she went running.

"Frodo? Where are you?" She listened, waiting for any reply but none came. "Are you hurt?" She kept running, coming to a stop at a stone platform where she saw Frodo laying on his back. "Frodo?" He let out a gasp, turning to her. He looked so scared. "Frodo, what's wrong? What is it?"

"It has taken Boromir." Frodo breathed.

Ellaria straightened. "Where is the Ring?" She came towards him but Frodo quickly scrambled up and ran a short distance from her.

"Stay away!"

Ellaria frowned, turning her head when footsteps approached her to see Aragorn. She nodded her head towards Frodo. "He trusts you more."

Aragorn nodded before following after the Hobbit with Ellaria close behind. Frodo shouted for them to stay away. Aragorn came to a slow stop. "Frodo, I swore to protect you."

"Can you protect me from yourself?" Frodo asked. He opened his hand, revealing the Ring. "Would you destroy it?"

Aragorn slowly approached Frodo until he was standing right in front of him. He reached out for the Ring, kneeling before Frodo, only to close Frodo's hand around it. "I would have gone with you to the end, into the very fires of Mordor."

Frodo held his hand to his chest, sadness in his eyes. "I know. Look after the others, especially Sam. He will not understand."

"Aragorn!" Ellaria warned, pulling out her sword and turning around.

"Go, Frodo." Aragorn ordered, standing and pulling out his own sword. "Run. Run!"

Aragorn quickly moved to stand beside Ellaria as they came face to face with a pack of Uruk-Hai. In an instant, they both began fighting. Ellaria quickly swung her sword, slicing down the creatures left and right. She joined Aragorn as they backed up the steps of the stone monument, making it to the top with Uruk-Hair surrounding them. She turned her head when the leader yelled to find the halfling. Sharing a look with Aragorn, the two of them quickly jumped down, knocking down multiple Uruk-Hai that had turned to head towards Frodo. Ellaria quickly turned on her back, bringing her sword up and sending it straight through one of them.

She pulled her sword out, kicking the body away from her and turning her head when Legolas ran in and began firing his arrows with Gimli following behind him and throwing his axe into the chest of one. Ellaria shot up from the ground, slicing one's head off.

"Aragorn, go!" Legolas ordered, shooting another one down.

Aragorn quickly went running as Ellaria and Legolas kept the Uruk-Hai from following after him. She quickly ducked under a swing, stabbing the Uruk-Hai in the neck before pulling out her blade. She spun around another attack and Legolas was quick to shoot the creature down, letting her grab onto the arm of one and flip herself over it, killing it in mid air. She landed on top of another, sending it to the ground and stabbing her sword through its chest. They followed after Aragorn until they caught up with him, cutting down the Orcs that were surrounding him.

Legolas was quick to shoot the one attacking Aragorn which was the last one around them. They all turned their heads when a horn could be heard. Legolas's eyes widened. "The horn of Gondor."

"Boromir!" Ellaria quickly shouted before she went running. Gimli, Legolas, and Aragorn were quick to follow after her, killing any Uruk-Hai they crossed along the way. Ellaria pushed her legs as fast as they would go, jumping over logs and slicing Uruk-Hai's down without so much as stopping. She got closer and closer to Boromir and came to a stop when she saw the sight before her. Boromir had two arrows protruding out of him, Pippin and Merry standing behind him with their eyes wide as he fell to his knees. But Boromir forced himself to stand up and keep fighting.

Ellaria quickly jumped into the battle, fighting off the creatures and trying her best to get to Boromir, but every time she turned more kept coming. A third arrow was shot into Boromir and she clenched her jaw, fighting harder and harder. Boromir fell to the ground and Merry and Pippin let out angered yells as they ran forwards. Ellaria sliced of two heads at once, stabbing one in the back. She had to get to them. She had to get to Boromir, she had to get to Merry and Pippin. As the two Hobbits ran forwards, two of the Uruk-hai quickly grabbed onto them and began to carry them away.

Ellaria went to run forwards but an Uruk-Hai knocked her off her feet, slamming her roughly into the ground. Her head bounced off the hard ground, quickly holding up her sword as the Uruk-Hai brought his down on her. His sword hit hers and pushed against it. Ellaria clenched jaw, pushing back as best as she could. She turned her head, watching as Aragorn jumped in, keeping Boromir from being shot a forth time and began to fight the leader.

Ellaria turned back to Uruk-Hai above her, his sword growing closer and closer to her chest. She narrowed her eyes into an angry glare. If she was going to win this one, she had to let him have the upper hand. She shifted his sword, removing her own and crying out in agony as the sword plunged into her shoulder. She quickly grabbed the dagger at her thigh, pulling it out and stabbing the Uruk-Hai in the neck. It fell over and she ripped the sword out, letting out another cry of pain.

She pushed herself up, ignoring the pain that ricocheted through her arm and ran towards Boromir. She came to a stop when she saw Aragorn already kneeled beside him. Tears pooled in her eyes, watching the exchange between the two but daring not to listen. She clutched her hand to her wound, watching the two Men and closing her eyes when she saw the last breath leave Boromir's lips.

She'd done it again. Failed to reach someone before they died. It had happened right before her eyes once more. Tears fell from her eyes as Legolas and Gimli joined her. Aragorn stood, not turning away from Boromir's body. "They will look for his coming from the White Tower, but he will not return."

They carried Boromir's body back to the boats, laying him in it with his sword and watching as he floated down the river and over the waterfall. Legolas grabbed his own boat. "Hurry. Frodo and Sam have reached the eastern shore." He paused and turned when none of them moved. "You mean not to follow them?"

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

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

Aragorn looked between Gimli and Legolas, placing his hands on their shoulders. "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. Leave all that can be spared behind. We travel light." He turned his head to Ellaria. "Will you come with us?"

Ellaria, who managed to make a small salve from the ingredients she could find, nodded. She ran a hand over her wound that would heal over time. "I won't leave those Hobbits to die." She walked over to the three of them, tucking her sword in its sheath.

Aragorn firmly nodded his head. "Let us hunt some Orc." He ran back into the forest and the three of them followed closely behind.