Chapter 10: The Battle At Amon Hen
The fellowship followed the great river, Anduil, for 8 days. As they continued south, a feeling of dread and fear passed over the fellowship. On the 8th day, Legolas looked over to the banks of the Anduil, while Gimli was rowing. Soon after a black feathered arrow, whizzed past Legolas’ head.
‘Yrch!’ Legolas cried, grabbing a paddle.
‘Paddle together!’ Boromir cried. As soon as the boats were close enough to shore, Legolas and Eldiriel got out their bows and aimed for a target to shoot at. Looking up Eldiriel murmured,
‘Elbereth Gilthoneil!’
There was a dark shape moving in the sky.
‘Maybe it’s a cloud.’ Eldiriel murmured.
‘It’s moving to fast to be cloud.’ Legolas said back. Legolas and Eldiriel both shot at the dark shape. A piercing scream rang threw the air as the arrow reached it’s destination.
‘It seems that our orc friends have fled.’ Eldiriel said looking across the bank.
After a period of rest, Aragorn told them, that they had to keep moving.
Slowly the Fellowship made progress again. Mist fell heavily over them as day changed to night. The Fellowship camped out for the night. Neither orcs nor the black object came to bother them, but still fear and evil grew heavier as they continued. The next morning the mist was still heavily over the river, and about mid-day it began to rain. The rain didn’t fall for long but when the clouds cleared up the Fellowship saw a wonderful site.
‘The Argonath!’ Aragorn cried out to the Fellowhsip. ‘The Pillars of the Kings.’
The statues of stone still stood majestically after many years of rain and wind. They towered over the traveling group. Holding out their left hands, palms out to warn off invaders. In their right, was an ax and upon their head was a crown and helm. Aragorn looked up at the statues of his ancestors in awe and pride.
‘If only Gandalf were here.’ Aragorn whispered to himself.
Aragorn lead the Fellowship to the right branch of the Anduil, and camped soon after heading to the right. Sam made a quick supper for the Fellowship, Aragorn was deep in thought. Merry, Pippin and Sam were talking of the Shire, as they often did. Frodo was near by staring off at nothing. Boromir and Gimli were sitting talking about nothing at all. Legolas was sitting near Eldiriel. Eldiriel looked off at the eastern shores.
‘There is something on your mind, Eldiriel.’ Legolas said.
‘There is something coming. Something terrible.’ Eldiriel said softly.
‘You feel it too?’ Legolas asked.
‘Of course! How could anyone not feel it!?’ Eldiriel asked terrified.
‘Calm down, Eldiriel. We don’t want to scare the halflings.’ Legolas whispered.
‘Easy for you to say.’ Eldiriel said.
‘How is it easy?’ Legolas asked.
‘You are wiser than I am! You know what to do, when do to it and how to handle things!’ Eldiriel said angrily.
‘I don’t know what to do all the time.’ Legolas said. ‘I don’t know what to do around you. What to say, when to say it or how to say it.’
‘Well…I…you…’ Eldiriel said while his brain tried to think of something intelligent to say.
‘Legolas, Eldiriel, come we must talk.’ Aragorn sternly.
‘Something is pressing him.’ Legolas said.
‘I could tell that.’ Eldiriel teased. Legolas smiled lightly.
‘There is a decision that must be answered soon.’ Aragorn said. ‘We have come all this way as a company, The Fellowship of the Ring. Now we must decide to go with Boromir to the Wars of Gondor, or turn east and face the shadow.’ Aragorn stated looking around at the different races around the fire. ‘We can split up and each one of us can choose which way to go.’
No one said anything.
‘Frodo, the choice has come to you.’ Aragorn said looking at Frodo. Frodo didn’t answer at once but looked up with distress in his eyes.
‘I can’t make the decision now. I know that I must hurry but it too heavy. I need to think about.’ Frodo said looking around. ‘May I have one hour?’ Frodo asked.
‘One hour it is Frodo.’ Aragorn said softly. ‘Don’t wander off or go out of ear shot.’
Frodo got up and walked away.
The Fellowship’s nerves were on edge for that one hour.
‘Legolas?’ Eldiriel asked.
‘Yes Eldiriel?’ Legolas asked in reply.
‘I need to talk to you.’
‘What is it?’ Legolas asked in concern.
‘I feel that something is going to bring us to part as a Fellowship. If something does happen, please look after the hobbits for me. They need looking after, even if they don’t show it.’ Eldiriel said looking at Merry and Pippin.
‘What are you saying?’ Legolas asked. ‘I feel the fear and danger in the air, but what are you talking about? The breaking of the Fellowship?’ Legolas asked.
‘There is one corrupt among us! Can’t you feel it? Who ever it is, is going to do something and it will lead to the breaking of the fellowship.’ Eldiriel cried in a low voice.
‘We must do something!’ Legolas said turning.
‘Legolas, what is going to happen will happen for a reason.’
‘You sound like the Lady of the Wood.’ Legolas smiled.
‘Where is Boromir?’ Pippin’s loud voice cut into everyone thoughts. Legolas and Eldiriel looked around. Sam, Merry, Pippin, Gimli, Aragorn…where was Boromir?
‘It has been an hour.’ Gimli spoke. ‘Maybe he went to find him and bring him back?’ Gimli suggested.
‘Wrong.’ Boromir’s voice came from the woods. Everyone looked and there stood a sorrowful Boromir.
‘Have you seen Frodo?’ Sam asked urgently.
‘Yes and no. I saw him near the top of Amon Hen. Than I said that he should deicide to go to Minas Tirith and not east. He said no, I became enraged…than he vanished.’ Boromir said sitting down.
‘Have you more to say?’ Aragorn asked bitterly, not looking happy.
‘Yes, but I will not tell anymore now.’ Boromir said holding his head in his hands.
‘This is not good! Not good at all!’ Sam said jumping up. ‘I don’t know what he has been up too but, we have to find Frodo!’ Sam cried.
‘Where would he go?’ Merry asked.
‘He wouldn’t keep the Ring after he has escaped an unwanted visitor! Where is he! Where would he go?’ Pipin asked frightened.
‘Boromir, when was the last time you saw Frodo?’ Aragorn asked.
‘Half an hour ago….maybe longer. I don’t know anymore.’ Boromir said sorrowfully.
‘We must split into pairs…WAIT!’ Aragorn yelled as the fellowship ran up into the woods. Merry and Pipin ran off in one direction, followed closely by Boromir. Sam ran off by himself. Legolas and Gimli ran off. Aragorn ran up into the woods. Eldiriel followed Sam, knowing that Sam would think of where Frodo is. Before Legolas could get far, Eldiriel stopped him.
‘The Breaking of the Fellowship has started. Look after Merry and Pipin, they’ll need it. I am going to follow Sam to Frodo. Tell Aragorn that…when you see him next. I will get them to Mordor, even if it’s the last thing I do.’
‘It’s not going to be the last thing you do. You and I will live through this! We will tell our children and their children that we fought in the War of the Ring! That we were in the presence of Frodo Baggins and the King of Gondor!’ Legolas said. ‘Take this. Lorlome gave it to me. She told me that it is to protect the person who wears it.’ Legolas said. Legolas held out a pendent of a green stone, in the shape of a leaf with a crystal star in the center.
‘I can’t take it!’ Eldiriel said. ‘Lorlome gave it to you. You are more important.’
‘Eldiriel! Take it! I want to make sure that you are safe!’ Legolas said. ‘You have grown on me. I feel ashamed that I never got to know you before this. You are welcome back in Mirkwood anytime.’ Legolas said. ‘Now we need to fly! You especially, Sam and Frodo will need your help!’
‘Take care of yourself vana nogoth *fair-haired dwarf*‘ Eldiriel teased.
‘Watch out of the halflings and yourself silwilwarin. *silver shining butterfly*‘ Legolas teased back.
‘You need a better imagination if you are going to be a father and that’s all you can think of!’ Eldiriel smiled as he ran up after Sam. Legolas leaped up and ran after Gimli.
Eldiriel found Sam up the hill.
'Sam!’ Eldiriel yelled after him.
‘Eldiriel! I have to find Frodo!’ Sam cried worried.
‘Dear Sam, think of wear Frodo would go if he would know that there wasn’t anyone at camp? What he was thinking before he left the camp?’ Eldiriel asked.
‘He didn’t want to put anyone in danger, specially not Merry and Pipin. So he would go…..’ Sam stopped.
‘Off by himself.’ Eldiriel finished. ‘Come along Sam. We have a hobbit to find!’
Sam nodded and ran off with Eldiriel down Amon Hen.
Merry and Pipin were running off looking for Frodo when they saw orcs!
‘Merry…Umm…are those what I think they are?’ Pippin asked.
‘Yes, Pip! RUN!’ Merry cried. Pippin and Merry ran as fast as their legs could carry them. Finding a hole in a big tree, Merry and Pippin hid. Merry looked over and saw no other than Frodo. Merry’s mouth dropped.
‘Frodo over here!’ Merry whispered loudly. Frodo looked over and shook his head.
‘What’s he doing?’ Pippin asked confused.
‘He’s leaving.’ Merry said simply.
Pippin looked over at Frodo. Merry and Pippin understood…they need to get the orcs away from Frodo. Merry jumped out from the tree and started yelling
‘OVER HERE!!’
Pipin jumped out too and smiled when the orcs saw them.
‘Hey it’s working!’ Pippin smiled.
‘Yes Pip! Now run!’ Merry yelled grabbing Pippin’s shirt.
At the top, Aragorn was looking for Frodo.
‘Nothing’ He said to himself. ‘This is my fault.’ Aragorn said to himself rather loudly.
‘It not, Aragorn!’ Gimli’s voice interjected.
‘Gimli is right Aragorn.’ Legolas said.
‘Eldiriel went after Sam, Aragorn. I have a feeling that Eldiriel and Sam have found Frodo.’
‘Are you sure?’ Aragorn asked.
‘No, I have not seen them together, but I can feel it.’ Legolas said.
‘Stupid elves and their ‘feelings’.’ Gimli muttered.
Just than an arrow whizzed past Gimli’s head.
‘Where was you feeling on that!’ Gimli yelled as he turned and saw orcs running towards them. Legolas whipped out his bow and started shooting. Gimli and his ax hacked through the proceeding orcs. Aragorn unsheathed Andruil. The orcs feared this more than anything, but still had to keep going on orders from their master. During their battle on the top of the hill, the three of them, heard the Horn of Boromir. They all turned and ran to the sound of the horn.
Merry and Pippin were surrounded by orcs.
‘Merry?’ Pippin said.
‘Yes Pippin.’ Merry answered.
‘It’s been wonderful knowing you.’ Pippin gulped.
‘You too Pip. But I’m not going to give up without a fight.’ Merry said.
‘What you think that I was just going to lay down my sword?’ Pippin asked.
‘No, just I wanted to make sure.’ Merry said scared. Just than an orc fell down and Boromir jumped in to the circle of orcs.
‘Boromir!’ The hobbits cried. Boromir smiled than continued to hack and kill orcs. Merry and Pippin helped out but soon the orcs became to numerous and the orcs grabbed Merry and Pippin.
‘Boromir!’ Pippin cried.
‘Help us!’ Merry called out.
Boromir looked back and saw the hobbits being taken away. Just than an arrow was shot right into his chest. Crying out in pain, Boromir looked forward and saw what must have been the leading orc….with a bow and arrow. Another shot came out and planted it’s self in Boromir’s chest. Boromir got up and ran to kill the orc for taking the happy hobbits. Another shot came and hit Boromir, soon 5 arrows were planted in Boromir when he fell to the ground, to weak to get up and fight. Aragorn came running down the hill with Andruil raised ready for a fight. Seeing Boromir laying on the ground, rage filled him. The Orc turned and saw Aragorn. Aragorn slashed at the orc, only breaking it’s bow. The orc growled and drew it’s sword. There was a short, quick battle between the orc and Aragorn. When the orc was dead, Aragorn ran to Boromir.
‘Boromir!’ Aragorn cried.
‘They have taken the hobbits.’ Boromir said in a raspy voice. ‘I have failed.’
‘You have not failed! You have done Gondor a great honor!’ Aragorn said back.
‘The orcs took the hobbits.’ Boromir said looking up at Aragorn, than looking as Gimli and Legolas came into the clearing. Breathing one last time, Boromir died.
Frodo walked into the camp, still with the Ring on.
‘I must go!’ Frodo said to no one. ‘I can’t bring the awful fate upon the others.’ Frodo grabbed his pack and set it in a boat. Pushing off, into the River Frodo heard the voice of Sam.
‘Mr. Frodo!’ Sam cried, as he ran into the camp with Eldiriel.
‘I’m going to Mordor alone!’ Frodo cried back.
‘I know but you aren't going alone!’ Sam cried as he ran into the water.
‘No Sam!’ Frodo cried as he watched Sam try to swim across the river to him. Eldiriel was in the water, swimming to Sam, but it was too late, Sam went under. Frodo paddled to were Sam went under and grabbed for Sam’s hand which he could see in the fading light. Grabbing it, he pulled Sam up and into the boat.
‘Sam, are you stupid!’ Frodo cried hugging Sam.
‘No, I promised Gandalf I wouldn’t let you go off by yourself, I’m not going to break it!’ Sam said. ‘Eldiriel is coming too.’
‘Eldiriel don’t.’ Frodo said as he watched the elf swim up to the boat.
‘Sorry Frodo, but when I make up my mind, I’m not going to change it.’ Eldiriel said. ‘I’m going to pull the boat back. I will grab Sam and my packs and we will set off before the others can come back.’
Frodo nodded. Soon after, Frodo, Sam and Eldiriel were on the eastern side of the river and hurrying up and into the woods. They were on their way to Mordor.
