Run It Back Again (Part 2)

Chapter 21

"Do what your mother trained you to do, Era...  Focus on your surroundings."  I closed my eyes and swallowed hard as I sniffed the air.  Before long, I smelled something that smelled like rotten fish.  My eyes snapped open as I focused in on the lake in front of us.

"There...  In the lake.  I don't know what it is, but I don't like it."  Boromir glanced towards the lake, taking in it's perfectly calm surface.

Nearby, Pippin and Merry started to throw rocks into it.  Boromir immediately went over and stopped them while Aragorn helped Sam free the supply pony we found.  I sat there, massaging my ankle, which was still sore.  Finally, Gandalf and Frodo got the door open.  I stood and limped a little before freezing, sensing movement.

Memories soared through my mind. Everything pertaining to what happened while in Moria rushed through my head. A huge creature in the lake coming up... Me waking up somewhere deep in Moria... Gandalf facing this huge, fiery bull... I sneezed as the odor overtook my nose, shaking my head.

"Hey, guys...?"  No one listened to me as they all raced into the doorways.  I watched the still, quiet surface of the lake, feeling my chest rise and fall with every breath I took.  Something was coming...

"Goblins!"  I turned and saw the others come running out only to hear something behind me.  Turning around, I saw a huge creature that resembled a giant squid.

"Guys!  Get back!"  I heard a roar as I felt a tentacle wrap around my ankle.  I drew my sword and drove it into the ground, keeping me from getting dragged away.  Boromir came over and cut off the tentacle as I screamed in pain, feeling my ankle pop out of place.  As soon as I was free, I stood and supported myself on my embedded blade.  Boromir grabbed my arm and started to pull me away.

"Come on, Era!  Let's go!"  I started to leave with him, but, then, I heard Frodo scream.  I turned and saw Frodo getting dragged away.  The memory of what had happened before made me think for the briefest second. If I attacked, I'd be hurt. However, I didn't care. Frodo needed my help. Wincing in pain, I pushed away from Boromir and lifted my sword.

"Frodo!"  Ignoring Boromir's shout, I leaped through the air, shifting into a bird.

I nose-dived at the face of the creature, driving my sword into its face as I shifted back into a human.  The others were fighting off tentacles and calling out to me.  I grabbed onto the tentacle as the creature reared back and started to sink below the surface.  I found myself flung away and thrown into a rock.  I whimpered in pain as I shimmered back into my dwarvish form, knowing I was hurt pretty bad.  Boromir came forward and knelt down beside me as the beast roared again. However, I knew Frodo was just fine as Boromir attempted to help me to my feet.

"Are you okay?"  I nodded weakly. He picked me up and carried me through the doors, followed by the others.  I hated it, but I knew I was in no condition to walk. My back was numbing where I had hit the rock. As soon as the doors were shut, Gandalf "lit" his staff.

"It's 3 days to the other side.  Let's hope we aren't seen."  Boromir looked at Gandalf, sounding very concerned.

"Era's hurt...  I don't know how bad!"  Gandalf looked over at me and shook his head.

"We have to travel a little ways first.  If we turn back now, she could be in more danger.  We have to get to a safer place, first."  I groaned as I felt something drip down my back.  That couldn't be good...

"Put me down, Boromir."  He looked at me.

"What?"  I nodded weakly.

"Put me down...  I think I can walk."  When he did, I grabbed a rock for support.  I almost immediately fell over, only to be caught by Boromir.  Aragorn shook his head as I looked between them.

"You'll have to carry her, Boromir...  I don't think she'll be able to make it."  I started to shake my head, but Boromir picked me up.

"Sorry, Era, but he's right."  I wanted to protest, but drowsiness was taking me over. I finally sighed and nodded.

"Alright..." Perhaps it was best this way. Besides, I could feel the energy draining from me. Before long, I had fallen into a deep, dreamless sleep.

*Boromir's Pov-

After so long, we finally did stop to rest.  I set Era down as Aragorn came over and examined her.  I swallowed hard as he shook his head.

"How is she?"  He looked up at me.

"Her ankle's dislocated, and she's pretty beat up.  When she hit the rocks, it scrapped her back pretty badly.  As for having not woken up..."  He shook his head.  "A shapeshifter needs a certain amount of energy at every given moment to heal if injuried.  When she shifted, she drained herself of the energy she needed to heal.  So..."  He sighed.  "She's going to default.  Her remaining energy will go to healing her more life threatening injury, which is located in her back." I looked between Era's unconsciencous form and Aragorn.

"But, will she live?"  He nodded.

"Unless she can't recover less energy, her body will slowly heal itself in order to protect itself.  However, it means that until we can help her regain that energy, she'll be out cold, trying to heal.  Right now, the best we can do is put her ankle in place and let her rest and recover."  With that, he grabbed her ankle.  "Hold her shoulders..."