Last Act of Love (Sequel to The Last One)

Chapter 6

Ruive's clothes that she wears on the quest only minus the hat and scarf.

"The Ringbearer is setting out on the quest of Mount Doom and you who travel with him, no oath nor bond is laid to go further than you will." Elrond addressed the Fellowship.

"Farewell. Hold to your purpose and may the blessings of elves, and men, and all free folk go with you."

"The Fellowship awaits the Ringbearer." Gandalf announced.

Frodo looked around before nervously walking out of Rivendell. 

"Mordor, Gandalf, is it left or right?"

The wizard placed a comforting hand on the hobbit's shoulder.

"Left."

Ruive smiled to herself, hearing the conversation ahead of her. She looked behind her to see Aragorn and Arwen exchanging longing glances. She smiled and winked at him when he turned back around.

"Try not to ogle for too long brother, you might get left behind."

Aragorn chuckled and shook his head trying to hide the pink that coated his stubbled cheeks. 

The Fellowship trekked over mountains, across fields and passed ancient ruins. They finally came to rest on a rocky plain before the mountains of Caradhras.

"We must hold this course west of the Misty Mountains for forty days. If our luck holds the Gap of Rohan will still be open to us. And there are road turns east to Mordor." Gandalf mumbled to himself. 

Aragorn and Ruive sat smoking their pipes while watching Boromir teach Merry and Pippin to fight.

"Good, very good." Boromir commended. 

He moved to Pippin now.

"Move your feet." Aragorn encouraged.

"I remember telling you that many years ago. Getting you to move was like trying to move a boulder." Ruive recalled.

"Ah but if I remember rightly you broke a boulder with just your sword." Aragorn countered, smirking around his pipe.

Ruive nodded and sighed, remembering fighting the trolls and rescuing the dwarves. Ruive was drawn out of her memories by Gimli and Gandalf's conversation. 

"If anyone was to ask for my opinion, which I note that they're not, I'd say that we were taking the long way round. Gandalf, we could pass through the Mines of Moria. My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome."

Ruive smiled at the thought of Balin, she had not been to Erebor since the day she walked out. About 10 years after the battle, she returned to Dale to see Bard and his children, but she did not dare go to Erebor.

"No Gimli, I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice." Gandalf stated.

Ruive's eyes followed Legolas as he ran across a few rocks to get a closer look at a dark cloud, Gandalf noticed this to. Pippin suddenly cried out in pain causing Ruive's head to snapped in their direction out of instinct.

"Sorry!" Boromir squeak, stepping forward to look at pippin's hand.

But Pippin had other ideas that involved kicking Boromir in the leg then attacking him with Merry.

"Get him!"

Ruive and Aragorn watched on in amusement, the odd wrestling match between the two of them was not uncommon. 

"For the Shire. Hold him, hold him down Merry!" Pippin shouted as Boromir laughed.

Aragorn walked over to help Boromir by lifting the hobbits off him.