His Queen

Chapter 17 - Kitra

Fury blazed within her, fueled by the cold sting of snow that had soaked through her shoes and pierced her bones with its icy grip. She struggled to keep up with the rest of the group, her shivering body unable to match their pace. Aragorn lingered back with her, his warm voice coaxing her forward as she snapped at him in frustration. Despite her harsh words, he remained by her side, understanding the misery she was enduring. The biting wind whipped at their faces, stinging exposed skin and making it difficult to see ahead.

As they climbed a steep hill, Frodo stumbled and began tumbling towards them. Both rangers lunged forward, bracing themselves against the chill ground to stop the hobbit from rolling any further. They helped him up, brushing off the snow that coated his small frame. It was then that Frodo realized the Ring was missing from his neck. Panic set in as they scanned the snowy terrain for any sign of it.

In the distance, Boromir held up the trinket triumphantly, its golden chain glinting in the dim light. The entire company halted in anticipation, watching as he gazed mesmerized at the powerful object dangling before him. She instinctively placed a hand on her sword's hilt, ready to defend if necessary. The weight of their mission hung heavy in the air as they waited for what would happen next.

The piercing call of "Boromir!" echoed through the air, but it seemed to fall on deaf ears. Aragorn's voice was strained with worry and fear, and Alana could feel her heart tighten in response.

"It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over such a small thing, such a little thing." She strained to hear Boromir's words as he stood ahead of them, his eyes fixed on something only he could see. But she could sense the pull of the Ring, its insidious whispers causing a throbbing behind her eyes.

"Boromir." Alana approached the man and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, trying to break him from his trance. It took a moment for him to register her presence, confusion clouding his features.

"Boromir!" Kitra called again, her voice urgent. He turned to look at her and his eyes flicked down to the hand that rested on the hilt of her sword. Understanding dawned in his expression.

"Give the Ring to Frodo." Alana's voice was firm as she nodded towards Frodo, who stood with determination in his stance. Boromir hesitated for a moment before walking back down to them, holding out the Ring for Frodo. The weight of it seemed almost too much for him to bear, but with one final encouraging nod from Alana, he handed it over to its rightful bearer.

Frodo snatched the ring from his hands, a glint of determination in his eyes. After a moment, Boromir grinned widely, ruffling Frodo's hair in playful camaraderie. With a swift turn, he joined Alana at her side. Alana glanced over Boromir's shoulder at her and the shared a knowing look.

Kitra released the hilt of her sword, sensing the tension in the air dissipate as Aragorn followed suit. She felt his hand on hers and gave it a comforting squeeze, silently reminding him to remain calm. From the corner of her eye, she could see Boromir talking with Alana. She placed her own hand over Aragorn's, reassuring him that everything was okay.

"Remember to breathe," she whispered to him before leaning in to place a kiss on his cheek with her cold lips. He smiled at her half-heartedly, grateful for her calming presence. She walked ahead of him confidently, keeping an eye out for any potential danger.

Alana hung back slightly until Aragorn looked back at her. His nod indicated that all was well and she continued to walk beside him. When they were close enough to join in the conversation, Kitra turned to her cousin with concern etched on her face.

"Is he alright?" she asked quietly.

"The ring calls to him," Alana replied softly, her voice carrying both worry and understanding. Kitra nodded, having heard the whispers amongst their group about the power of the ring and its hold on Frodo's mind.