A Second Chance

A Second Chance Part 10

As the sun rises the next morning I stretch out my stiff limbs and give a tiny thankful smile for the fact that Galadriel had sent an elf back to me with bandages and healing potions of some kind as I feel almost certain that if I could not have carried on without being healed, for the most part at least. I was still sore and my shoulder ached but the paste they had given me had worked miracles and so too had it worked on my ribs and the other cuts and bruises. I actually seem to heal very quickly here, much more so than I ever did at home, actually I barely seemed to have a bruise for more than a day before it was gone, I should probably have to ask some more questions about that at some point.

"My lady they are waiting," a voice says and I lock those thoughts away for later and concentrate on what faced me now and taking a deep breath I turn and nod before following the elf down to the water's edge where the rest of the fellowship wait.

I hesitate as I see them stiffen at the sight of me and the way that both Aragorn and Legolas avoid my gaze completely but harden my resolve and step forward coming to stand beside Frodo.

"Finley," I look up hearing the voice and see Lady Galadriel standing before me smiling sadly and I gulp a little. "You face decisions in your future that could change the lives of thousands but remember sometimes saving the lives of those close by could also be important. Trust in your instinct, it will not lead you astray, may this help you in your quest," she finishes handing me a beautifully ornate sword and I bow a slight curtsy to her. Well that was insanely cryptic and no help whatsoever, I understand nothing of what she just said other than the fact that my instinct has rarely been correct. I look up as she laughs suddenly and realise with sudden embarrassment and shame that she can hear everything that I am thinking. Bollocks!

"Sorry," I whisper in my head to her and she shakes her head.

"They avoid your eye because they are guilty, they know they were wrong to treat you so but their grief made them behave irrationally, just give them time, you were not wrong to trust them," she thinks to me and I blush again feeling the sting of tears in my eyes as their rejection of me rushes back over me.

Taking a shuddering breath I steel myself and walk purposefully towards the boats we would be travelling in and as soon as I get there both Legolas and Aragorn jump into boats so that there is no room for me and I sigh as I turn to Boromir who looks upon me with some kindness for the first time although it is twinned with pity and his own troubles.

"Here my lady you shall ride with me," he says offering me his hand and I offer him a small smile in return as I step into the boat and take a seat. We float along the river in silence for a long time and I have a chance to ponder the recent events. I had heard that time moved differently in the Lothlorien forest but it seems rushed, I can't quite put my finger on it but it felt like something had changed and originally the fellowship should have rested there longer. Could it be that my presence here was changing the course of the future even if I wasn't trying to do anything? Would the outcome of the war be altered too? But I couldn't panic, the Valar had brought me here, that's what Galadriel said so it must be going the right way. I sigh again as I think about it all and wished beyond anything that I could speak to Legolas or Aragorn about how I felt, even if I couldn't tell them anything about what was to happen just them being close to me made me feel better, made me feel safer.

"For what it is worth my lady I believe you did what you had to and I hold no grudge," Boromir says quietly and I spin to look at him in shock.

"Of all the people to be on my side I would have thought of you the last," I whisper and he shakes his head sadly.

"I have not shown myself in a very good light to you have I?" he says after a while and I smile a little at him, tears prickling in my eyes.

"It is okay, I know you are a good man and a brave and honourable one," I answer and he gazes at me for a while before smiling a tiny amount at me.