Chap. 21 - The Argonath and the Kidnapping

As we paddled along the Anduin, I watched the river bank go by. Gimli sat, and gradually fell asleep again. Aragorn kept paddling. I offered to switch so he could give him arms a break, but he declined each and every time I asked.

When we left Lothlórien this morning, it was parlty sunny. Now it was overcast. What if it rained? I shook the thought from my mind, and saw something huge in the distance. It looked like stone, but I wasn't sure. As we got closer, the sun came out again.

Aragorn tapped my shoulder, obviously excited, "Alex. The Argonath! Long have I desired to look upon the kings of old. My kin."

It turns out, the huge things in the distance were gigantic stone statues. They looked magnificent, and they had their left arms out and their palms facing up, seeming to stop us from going any further. My mouth gaped open. Looking at the size of those statues, I thought of the Statue of Liberty. These statues made Lady Liberty look small. Their stern faces looked down upon us. We passed between the huge stone statues that were carved into the mountain. I wondered how long it took to carve those. We approached a small beach, and got off of the boats. I helped unload some food.

"We cross the lake at nightfall. Hide the boats and continue on foot. We approach Mordor from the north," Aragorn said, and looked across the water.

Gimli sniffed, "Oh, yes? It's just a simple matter of finding our way through Emyn Muil? An impassable labyrinth of razor-sharp rocks! And after that, it gets even better! Festering, stinking marshlands far as the eye can see."

I tried to imagine what Gimli had described. "That is our road. I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength, Master Dwarf," Aragorn said, and looked down at Gimli.

Gimli glared up at him, and growled, "Recover my..!?"

I stifled a laugh. Gimli was sleeping in the boats. No wonder he didn't want to rest. I looked at Legolas who was listening to something in the woods, "We should leave now."

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

"It is not the eastern shore that worries me. A shadow and a threat has been growing in my mind. Something draws near. I can feel it," Legolas said, and looked back into the forest.

"Recover my strength?" I heard Gimli grumble. I set the food down, and watched Merry come out of the woods with firewood. "Where's Frodo?" Merry asked.

I looked around the camp, and saw that Boromir was gone as well. Aragorn ran into the forest, and I followed. I reached for my sword, just in case.

Aragorn turned to me, "Go find Boromir. I'll get Frodo." He started to walk up the hill, and then quickly looked at me again, "Be careful."

I nodded, "You too." I started to walk up the foresty hill. I saw Boromir next to a huge, stone head. "Boromir! Where is Frodo?"

Boromir looked up, "I tried to take the ring from him. Oh Frodo! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry." He started to sob. I walked towards him, and kneeled next him. I put my hand on his shoulder, and helped him up.

"Where is he?" I asked him softly. Boromir looked up the hill, "I'm not sure. He disappeared once he put the ring on."

I nodded, "Thank you. I'll be right back." I ran up the hill, and Aragorn was yelling at Frodo to run.

"Aragorn! What is it?" I yelled up to him. Frodo was hesitating to run. Aragorn glanced at me, and drew his sword. "Uruk-Hai!"

Legolas and Gimli came running up behind me, and I looked at Frodo, "Go Frodo! Run!" I gave his shoulder a light push, and he started to run. The orcs came up the hill, and started to attack. I used my bow, and released arrows that were already covered in orc blood. Aragorn yelled at me while fighting an orc, "Alex! Go to Merry and Pippin!"

I looked at him, and saw the advancing orcs, and yelled back, "There are too many for you to handle once I leave!"

"Just go!" he yelled, and looked at me with pleading eyes. I hesitated, and ran down the hill. Merry and Pippin were hiding behind a tree trunk as more orcs wandered the forest. Boromir was fighting some orcs across a small creek.

"Merry! Pippin!" I whispered, from behind a different tree trunk. I noticed they were talking frantically to Frodo. They suddenly stood up, "Go Frodo!" Frodo stood up, and ran down to the water.

Merry and Pippin started to yell at the orcs, and ran the opposite direction of Frodo.

I followed them and played along, "Hey! Right here!"

I ran as fast as I could and helped the hobbits run with me. The Uruk-Hais were advancing on us quickly. One approached me, and threw an axe. It barely missed my head, and landed in a nearby tree. I gasped as Boromir jumped onto the path and killed the orc that threw the axe. We kept running, and stopped. Boromir couldn't handle the group of orcs on his own. I turned to the hobbits, "Run! I'll meet up with you! Just hide!"

I ran towards Boromir, and didn't realize the hobbits were following me. I drew my sword, and slashed at some of the orcs. There were too many! "Boromir! We can't handle all of these!" I yelled, and Boromir nodded. He picked up his ox-horn. He blew three blasts into the horn.

Merry and Pippin were behind me, and yelling, "For the Shire!" They killed an orc together. I smiled, "Good job you two!"

But wait. I told them to run. I turned to them, and saw an Uruk-Hai coming up to them, "RUN!"

They saw the upcoming orc, and ran. They tried to defend themselves, and failed. The orc grabbed them, but I swung my sword, and beheaded him. Orc blood splattered my face. The two hobbits stared up at me, and sped off again. I went back to Boromir, and released arrows now. Boromir and I were side by side now, killing orcs like a machine. Out of the corner of my eye, the orc who seemed like the leader, let loose an arrow.

"Boromir!" I managed to get out before the the filthy arrow hit Boromir in the shoulder. He gasped in pain.

The hobbits, turned from their small sprint. And ran back. "No!" I yelled at them. They drew their swords again, and barely had a chance to swing before an orc grabbed them. The remaining troops carry them off. "MERRY! PIPPIN!" I yelled, and swung at the orcs. The leader again stepped forwards toward Boromir. "No. NO!" I screamed, and the orc released another arrow. It hit Boromir in the stomach. He keeled over, and hit the ground. Orc troops swarmed around us. "Boromir!" I said, and leaned down to him. He looked up at me, and reached for my face, "Go. Go now! Protect the little ones."

I started to sob, "Boromir." The leader now approached me, but I stood up. "NO!" I yelled with anger. I took my sword, and with all of my might, and I swung it at the orc's head. I heard a crunch of my blade hitting bone, and watched the orc's head fall to the ground. I staggered around, dazed, but triumphant about my kill. I leaned back down to Boromir, who looked back up at me, "Go, Alex. I don't need your pity."

I grabbed his hand, but the orcs surrounded us. I saw Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli running down the hill to us. An orc hastily grabbed me, and picked me up. My hand was torn from Boromir's, who watched me get pulled away. My sword fell onto the ground.

"No! Aragorn! Boromir!" I yelled, and struggled against the orc's grip. "Alex!" I heard Aragorn scream back. My bow was being crushed into my back. I glared at the orc's ugly face, who looked down on me and laughed. As the orc ran back into the group of the others, I reached for my daggers. Up ahead, I saw Merry and Pippin being carried as well. I sighed with relief. I slowly pulled one dagger out of my belt, and quickly stabbed the orc's eyes. It screeched, and dropped me. The other orcs stopped, and saw me. I stood up, and with a rush of adrenaline, sprinted away as fast as I could. I sprinted towards Merry and Pippin, but was quickly captured by the Uruk-Hai. I yelled with frustration.