Daughter of the Shapeshifter (A Lord of The Rings Fanfiction)

Chapter 21

That night, no one spoke to each other over the snowball fight we had.  Also, neither Boromir nor Haldir spoke to me all night, especially after I finally agreed to marry Boromir.  I sat in my room, fiddling with Mother's necklace.  Remembering what Mother had said about her energy being stored in it, I focused on her energy.  I saw her appear and frown.

"What's the matter, Era?"  I felt fresh tears stream down my face.

"I can't take it, Mother.  I love Haldir, but I also love Boromir!  Now, both know that I love the other, and they're mad at me.  What should I do?"  Mother sighed as she sat down beside me and pulled me into a hug.

"I see...  Look for the one who is more forgiving and true.  Then, go from there.  But, no matter what, let your heart guide you."  I cried into her shoulder until I fell asleep.

The next morning, Haldir stopped me before I reached the boat.  He sighed as he pulled me into a hug.

"Promise me that, if anything, you will come back."  I hung my head and glanced at Boromir, who was watching me carefully.  Since I agreed to marry him after our journey, he wanted me to stay away from Haldir.

"I promise that I will always be your friend, Haldir."  With that, I headed to the boat and climbed in, followed by Boromir.

"I'm sorry for making it hard for you, Era..."  I smiled politely at him as I glanced back at Haldir.

"I'm fine, Boromir...  Really."  He nodded and smiled at me as we sailed down the river, away from the snow covered woods of Lothloria and into the dry mountain forests.

I swallowed hard as we came to a stop by a huge waterfall.  I followed the hobbits to the beach while the others pulled the boat to shore.  As we set up camp at midday, I went out to scout.  Everything seemed quiet enough...  Until I heard Boromir yelling.  I came running and found him sitting under a tree, quietly sobbing.

"Boromir?  What happened?"  He looked up at me, trembling.

"It's Frodo...  I came across him, and I tried to take the ring..."  He sobbed into his hands.  I knelt down beside him and put a hand on his shoulder.

"It's okay, Boromir..."  He looked up at me and shook his head.

"No...  I tried to take what will never be mine!"  His cry was one of a broken heart.  I hung my head and kissed his cheek as he took my hand.  "I was at the point of trading my chance with you for it."  I swallowed hard, remembering what had happened in Lothloria.

"You'll never lose me, Boromir..."  I took a shaky breath.  "I'm yours."  He looked up at me, seeming to calm down.

"You're not mad at me for taking you from the elf?"  I swallowed hard and hung my head.

"No, Boromir...  I love you."  He kissed my hand and smiled at me.

"I love you, too, Era."  I knew we both meant it more than we thought we did.  Truth was, I felt as though Haldir was more family than love.  Boromir was the one who'd risked enough for me.  I sighed as I rested my head on his shoulder, feeling at rest.  Suddenly, I smelled something.

"Boromir...?"  He looked at me and frowned as I stood.

"What is it?"  I swallowed hard.

"Orcs."  I climbed into a tree and looked around.  Orcs were coming from along the river, coming right towards us.  Meanwhile, Merry and Pippin were roaming the woods, on their own, in the path of the pack of Orcs.  I leaped down and shook my head.  "This isn't good..."  He swallowed hard.

"How far?"  I thought for a moment.

"Half a mile...  Merry and Pippin are out there."  He stood up and looked around.

"Which way?"  I pointed towards Lothloria.  He nodded and started off.  "Stay here!"  I ran up beside him.

"Excuse me?"  He looked at me as he ran.

"I don't want you getting hurt.  Take cover and stay out of sight.  I'll come back...  I swear."  I shook my head.

"No, Boromir.  They need both of us!"  He sighed as he smiled at me.

"Okay, Era...  Just be careful."  I nodded and leaped over a fallen log, smelling Orc with each breath I took.

As I hit the ground, I found myself face to face with an Orc.  Shouting in surprise, I drew my sword and beheaded it in one, swift movement.  Nearby, Boromir reached the hobbits and started directing them away.  I shouted again as I ducked another Orc's blade.  I slammed my fist into his face and stabbed him in the chest.  I roared as I shifted into a huge wolf and lunged at several Orcs.

I had just snapped 2 necks and torn 5 Orcs when something landed on my back.  I roared as I rolled over, knocking the Orc from my back.  Before I could move any further, I found myself surrounded and getting kicked or hit with the butts of blades.  I growled and whimpered as I cowarded away from the Orcs.  Finally, I couldn't stand it any further and shivered back into my human form.

"Era!"  I started to turn towards Boromir, but something hit me in the back of the head.  I screamed as I blacked out.

*Boromir's Pov-

I heard her roars and scream...  Each one seemed to cut me in half.  I shouted and swung, trying to protect the hobbits, only to freeze when I saw an Orc knock Era to the ground.  I swallowed hard as her scream pierced the air and...

I jerked as I felt something embed itself into my chest.  I looked down and saw the arrow.  I swallowed hard and looked around.  The hobbits were frozen in fear, and Era was being carried off by a few Orcs.  Feeling the anger rise in me, I yelled and swung again, cutting down as many Orcs as I could.  2 more arrows embedded themselves in my chest before I finally fell to my knees, gasping for air.

I failed them...  Merry, Pippin, and Era...  I failed them all, and I was leaving Era.