After another night rest somewhere on a riverbank, we go on. I notice Boromir keeps looking towards Aragorn in a way of defeat. I sit back and try to relax a bit. But I have a feeling something is going to happen.
That weird feeling in your stomach?
'The Argonath' I hear Aragorn say in awe. I open my eyes and see that we drift pass by two enormous rock statues. Both of them are images of men. Mighty men. They look like knights. Both of them are holding their swords in front of their body. Protecting the narrow gap we float into. 'Long have I desired to look upon the kings of old ... my kin' Aragorn says with an emotion in his voice I never heard before. He turns around and I feel his gaze on me. But I dare not to look.
Luckily the current takes us through the gap towards a large lake.
∞
We arrive at the shore and I leap out of the boat.
Hallelujah, I am happy I feel steady ground beneath my feet again. I know for sure I am not a person to live on a boat.
'We cross the lake at nightfall, hide the boats and continue on foot ... we approach Mordor from the North' Aragorn announces while he and Boromir are pushing the boats on land. 'Oh, yes, just a simple matter of finding our way through Emyn Muil, an impassable labyrinth of razor-sharp rocks. And after that, it gets even better ... a festering, stinking marshland as far as the eye can see' Gimli says gloomy as he sits down on a rock by the lake. I can't help but laugh a little at his reaction. 'That is our road. I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength, Master Dwarf' Is Aragorn's reaction.
Recover your strength.
I look at Gimli and see that he is trying not to explode. Legolas rolls with his eyes, clearly not impressed. The boys are just trying not to laugh, as the same does Boromir. 'Recover my-' Gimli huffs, tightening his grip around his axe. A tension hangs in the air and I don't like it. 'I am going to get some wood for the fire' I say to no one in particular and walk into the forest.
No one responds.
Great.
If I am killed or being taken? Shall they miss me... I am not doing anything special or even a good fighter...
I begin with picking wood from the ground, gathering it on one spot, so I can take it all later back with me.
I startle a bit when I hear the bushes and the trees swish around. The wind was blowing harder and the air seems fowler..
'Boromir?' I hear Frodo's voice.
Where is he?
'None of us should wander alone; you least of all. So much depends on you ... Frodo?' Is Boromir's answer.
Why aren't they with the others?
I walk towards their voices. The pile of wood is for later care. I push some branches out of my face and now I see them. They stand in an open spot and Frodo is just turning around. But when he does, he just stares in horror at Boromir. 'I know why you seek solitude. You suffer, I see it day by day. Are you sure you do not suffer needlessly?' Boromir asks. The wind murmurs in the awkward silence. 'Let me help you. There are other ways, Frodo ... other paths that we might take' Boromir almost pleads. I take a step forward and the odd feeling is getting heavier. This isn't right. 'I know what you would say, and it would sound like wisdom but for the warning of my heart' Frodo tells him in sadness. 'Warning? Against what?' Boromir moves closer to Frodo but Frodo backs away from him. 'We're all afraid, Frodo. But to let that fear drive us to destroy what hope we have ... don't you see that is madness?'
'There is no other way' The boy says with a teary voice. 'I ask only for the strength to defend my people' Boromir takes another step forward and so do I. My hand is already on my sheath, ready to take my sword out to defend Frodo. 'If you would but lend me the Ring!'
'No!' Frodo says with fear in his eyes and steps hurriedly away from the man from Gondor. 'Why do you recoil? I am no thief'
'You are not yourself!' Frodo says warily. 'What chance do you think you have? They will find you, they will take the Ring and you will beg for death before the end' Frodo ignores him and turns to leave. 'You fool! It is not yours, save by unhappy chance. It might have been mine! It should be mine! Give it to me! Give me the Ring!' Boromir says demandingly and at a sudden he leaps on top of Frodo, grasping for the ring! I take my sword out of my sheath, rushing to them. But Frodo slips the ring around his finger and disappears.
Just like on weather top...
Boromir jumps around, spinning around wildly and with a crazy look into his eyes. 'I see your mind ... you will take the Ring to Sauron. You will betray us! You go to your death and the death of us all! Curse you! Curse you and all your Halflings!' He yells in madness. Than he turns around and sees me.
And how confident I was just seconds ago, it is all gone. Because how can I defend Frodo from a friend?
Boromir grins wickedly. ''Sara' He says my name with a voice of honey and tries to catch me. I jump out of the way and fall on my knees, moving on hand and knees towards the bushes. Boromir rushes forward but he stumbles and falls. His body shakes. ' Frodo! Frodo! What have I done? Please' He says disorientated. He looks up, right into my eyes. I realize that I am shaking with an unknown fear. 'O gods, Sara! I am so so sorry'
He is a friend Sara, they ring had him in control. But it is over now.
Shakily I stand up and rush towards him, only to fall on my knees next to him. I throw my arms around his neck and cry. His arms are also folded around my waist and he holds me close. Hugging me like a big brother would. 'Oh Sara, I am so sorry. I- I'
'Hush, it is okay. The ring is beyond your reach now' He nods his head slowly and kisses my forehead. 'Thank you Sara'
Harsh cries can be heard.
O bloody hell, no.
Why?
'Sara! Go find the others! I'll find Frodo!' Boromir says, dragging me up. I look at him. 'Can you do that?' His face falls but he recollects himself. 'Yes, I swore to protect him'
'I see you soon!' Is all I say and with a smile I run back towards the others. My sword tightly clenched in my hand. 'Hey, hey you! Over here!' I hear Merry shout. 'Hey! This way!' Pippin screams. Hunderds of footsteps can be heard and I hear the boys yells. The yelling is coming closer, as if the screams are.
Suddenly I am on the ground. 'Sara!' They drag me up again and I am running back to where I left Boromir.
What?
We continue to run, leading the pack of orcs away from the others, or so I suppose. 'It's working!' Pippin laughs. 'I know it's working! Run!' Merry says angrily. My heart pounds in my chest. My legs feel like jelly, and my breath is shorts and raspy, it feels like I could pass out any second. I feel my leg flash from pain. And I hiss. Dammit. But I can't quit. I just can't quit. Quitting means bad things, for me and the boys. Imprisonment maybe, or most likely, certain dead. In a haze, I watch the thick layers of forest pass by me in a blur. I have no idea where we were going, or when we could stop, that we were save. My – our time is running out, we can't run forever. The boys stop as more orcs approach from the other direction. I turn around but it has no use, we are trapped.
With a mighty battle cry Boromir charges up the hillside and blocks the stroke of the leadings orcs. He blows his horn while killing the orcs. Both of the boys are having their daggers ready. Orcs move closer and attack. I block blow after blow and my arm grows tired. Suddenly I am swept of my feet and thrown over a filthy shoulder. 'Sara!' Merry yells. Boromir's eyes grow wide. 'No!' Merry and Pippin try to rush after me but they are also scooped of their feet. Boromir cries out in rage but a loud thud stops time around us. A black arrow has imbedded itself in Boromir chest. He keeps fighting but another is fired and thuds in his chest. Than another and another one. 'No!' I scream it out, trying to get loose of the hold they have over me. But a last arrow brings Boromir to his knees. 'Aaaaagh! Boromir! Boromir!' They boys yell when they are carried away. An Orc aims his boy at Boromir's heart but with a battle cry Aragorn charges at him, smashing the bow with his sword. Aragorn kills the orc with one blow of his sword. Than he sees me, being carried away. His eyes grow wide in shock. 'Give her back at me' He growls and takes a step forward. 'Come and get her, little ranger' A dumb orc says while stepping forward. Gimli and Legolas are also rushing towards me. 'They have taken the boys also! Go after them!' I yell when the orc who has me hanging over his shoulders starts to run away, blocking me from sight. 'Sweet dreams' Is the last I hear before something heavy hits my head and my eyes close.