Paths That Lead Home (LotR F.F.)

Chapter 16: I'm Pretty Sure that I am Screwed

Abby's POV:

Merry and Pippin screamed, sheathing their swords charging at the gruesome orcs surrounding them. Cathy raised her staff and swinging it, sending orcs flying or setting them on fire. Her face was ghostly pale and drenched in sweat. She was fighting to get to Boromir who was kneeling on the ground, his back to me. He turned, revealing three arrows in his chest.

Everything was going in slow motion. Every sound was muffled.

I turned back to Merry and Pippin who were now being carried by the orcs. Cathy was on her knees, leaning on her staff. She stood when she noticed the hobbits being carried away and raised her staff. She made an arc with her staff sending the orcs near her flying. But that little effort took everything from Cathy. She fell forward, barely moving. An orc went over and picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder. She was still conscious and reached her hand out to Boromir who was staring down the shaft of an orc's crossbow.

A hand on my shoulder jerked me awake.

"You turn for watch, Abby," Boromir murmured.

I nodded and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. "Thanks." Boromir went to his little spot near the dimmed fire and fell asleep.

I went through my dream again. It felt a lot like my dream about Gandalf. I began to fear that the same thing that happened to Gandalf will happen to Boromir. I should tell the others, but I think the loss of Gandalf is still a little too fresh, at least to the hobbits.

"Aimee," Cathy mumbled in her sleep. She shifted, facing the fire, her face was scrunched up like she was thinking really hard.

I felt bad for snapping at Cathy earlier. She is just worried about me. Galadriel's comment that Cathy is supposed to be my guardian rang through my head. I shook my head at that.

I reached for my bag and pulled out the mirror that Galadriel gave me. It was a little handled mirror from what you would find in an antique store. It was circular and had golden leaved on the sides. I stared into it, looking at my reflection. My hair, once a bright caramel color was a few shades darker. My blue eyes didn't look as bright as I thought they were. Is it from seeing so much already? My face was mostly clean. No dirt or blood, yet.

I've been here for what? Three or four months? And I look much different than what I looked like when I first arrived in Rivendell. It was hard to imagine that all that has happened transpired over a few months and it has already taken a toll on me.

I stare at the mirror for a little bit longer, waiting for it to do something, but nothing happened. I almost put it back in my bag, but I decided to stuff it down my shirt. I felt more comfortable having it close to me. Until I figure out how to use it, it will be my little secret.

The next morning, everyone resumed their usual position. The tension between Aragorn and Boromir was thick and almost made it hard to breathe. Mine and Cathy's boat floated next to Aragorn's. Cathy took up rowing again using her magical powers. She is lasting longer and longer each day. I'll admit, I was impressed, but I still worry about her. She looked like she was in her own little world this morning. Aragorn at one point went over to her and she didn't realize he was in front of her until he touched her shoulder. I don't know if it was from me snapping at her last night, or something, but I wasn't sure whether or not to ask her about it.

I thought about telling Cathy my dream, but decided to tell her once we are alone. In my lap was her drawing of the symbol she saw in her dream. I have never seen the symbol before. I don't even have a feeling of seeing it before. Cathy says the symbol looks familiar to her at least, and I don't know what fairyland she's in as to how the symbol looks familiar to her and not to me.