The Return of the King and Queen

Chapter 13: The Battle of Amon Hen

The next morning the Fellowship continued down the river in silence. They passed the Argonath, large statues of the old king's of Gondor. They all looked up in amazement at the grand architecture as the passed by. 

The fellowship waited until they neared the waterfalls before they pulled ashore. Where they got out of the boats and pulled out their equipment to set up camp as they had the night before.

"We cross the river at nightfall. Hide the boats and continue on foot. We approach Mordor from the North." Aragorn informed them.

"Oh yes?" Gimli asked as he sat in front of the small fire they had built. "Just a simple manner of finding our way through Emyn Muil, an impassable labyrinth of razor-sharp rocks? And after that, it gets even better." Gimli sarcastically complained. The smile fell from Pippin's face at the news as he ate. "Festering, stinking marshland as far as the eye can see." Gimli continued. Amdiriel rolled her eyes at the Dwarf and tuned out his complaining as she looked over to Legolas who was staring into the forest. She went to the side of her friend to see what he was staring out but found nothing. "What is it?" she asked, feeling a shadow grow as she stared into the forest, it wasn't familiar darkness but she could tell it would bring nothing but trouble for them. "I don't know but it is unsettling." he said. 

"That is our road. I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength, Master Dwarf." Aragorn said.

"Recover my-" Gimli growled.

Legolas walked over to Aragorn urgently. "We should leave now."

"No, Orcs patrol the eastern shore. We must wait for the cover of darkness." Aragorn told him.

Legolas turned back to the forest "It is not the eastern shore that worries me. A shadow and a threat has been growing in my mind. Something draws near." he said and turned back to the Ranger. Both men looked over at the elf staring intently into the forest.

"Where's Frodo?" Merry asked as he placed down some firewood. Sam sat up quickly while the threat of danger grew in Amdiriel's mind. She then turned and realized her brother was gone. "Aragorn, Boromir is gone too." she told him, the ranger could hear the fear in her voice. Amdiriel loved her brother beyond compare but she knew he could be irrational and be reckless when desperate like herself but she feared their father had influenced him too much.

Aragorn came up beside her and slipped his hand into hers in comfort, Amdiriel looked up at him. "We will find them." he said to her before he turned to Legolas and Gimli. "Legolas, Gimli you two together, find Frodo. Amdiriel your with me." Aragorn said. "No, Aragorn I have to find him alone." she told him. Aragorn was about to protest but Amdiriel cut him off. "He won't hurt me. He wouldn't." she told him. Aragorn feared for Amdiriel but he knew what she said was true it all depended on what state of mind Boromir would be in. Aragorn let out a sigh of defeat "As you wish." he said, the same words he had said to her before he let her take Frodo to Rivendell with 5 then later 9 Nazgul chasing her. he could only hope that this time, she would alright. Se gave him a small smile and squeezed his hand before she turned to the hobbits. "I would not stray too far from the river in case they come back and we didn't see them, they will not think we abandoned them." She said before she ran into the trees. Aragorn's heart pounding like something was coming. 

Amdiriel ran through the forest her heart in her chest preparing her for what she could find. She could hear two people speaking and knew she had to be close.

"I only ask for the strength to protect my people."Boromir said and just as Amdiriel came around the corner to see her brother throw the pile of wood he had in his arms to the ground in frustration. Amdiriel hid behind the tree in the hope her brother would come to. she had to have faith that he was stronger than he was.