The Forest

How am I going to get out of these woods without having anyone notice? She couldn't think of anything. She would just have to improvise. The woods of Lothlórien were still at rest, and she took this time to sneak into her room, gather her things, and sneak back down to where Chestnut was to ready him. She led him to the outskirts of the forest, where the fellowship would be leaving.

On her way back to the fellowship's camp, Haldir stopped her.

"Where have you been off to, Déorwyn?" he asked.

"Just went for a walk. I needed to clear my head." She said. She wished to tell him the whole truth, about her plans to go after the fellowship, but she knew he would stop her.

"I see," he said. "Lady Galadriel has requested that you join her as she bids farewell to the fellowship."

"I will be there" she added, and walked into the camp.

"Lady Déorwyn!" Pippin said. "The elves have provided us with eggs, bacon and toast! Would you care for any?" Sam was around a frying pan cooking up the eggs and bacon while Merry toasted the bread over a small fire.

"No thank you, Pippin." She said. She then remembered that leaving the woods of Lothlórien meant that she would not have a good meal for quite some time. She changed her mind as she looked at the feast that Sam was preparing. "Actually, Pippin, I wish not to insult Master Samwise on his fine cooking. Sam would you mind fixing me some breakfast."

"Yes, milady! It would be my honor!" Sam said with a twinkle in his eye.

Legolas, Aragon and Gimli laughed as the hobbits danced around the area preparing the meal.

Déorwyn saw a vacant seat next to Frodo, and she went over to talk to him.

"Good morning, Frodo." She said. He smiled and shifted away from her a bit. She can sense that he is uneasy around her because of her relation to Boromir. "Frodo, I mean no harm to you, nor the ring." She said lightly, "I wish the ring destroyed, and if it makes you at ease, I will leave this seat and find somewhere else to eat."

Frodo looked at her. He could tell that she was sincere. He felt bad for shifting away from her and moved back to his original seat. "I am sorry, Lady Déorwyn. Forgive me but I do not know who to trust now a days."

She took his hand gently. "I know it may not be much, but you can trust me. Know that I am going to try everything that I can to keep my brother from harming you."

Frodo nodded his head, and Sam brought them their plates over.

When they were done with breakfast, Déorwyn excused herself to ready for the farewell. She dressed in a simple dress, something that she could ride in. Haldir appeared at her door to escort her to the river.

She walked behind Lady Galadriel as she presented each of the fellowship with a gift from Lothlórien. She walked up to each of the members, and placed a small kiss on their cheeks. Aragon told her to be safe; Legolas said he hoped to see her soon. Gimli was too taken by the Queen that he couldn't even form words. She kissed each of the hobbits on their heads. When she got to Boromir, she hugged him, kissed him on the cheek and said for a last time, softly. "Boromir, please, do not go." She knew that it was no use. He just looked at her, kissed her on her forehead and proceeded to the boats.

She watched as the three boats bearing the fellowship floated down the river and out of her sight. It was time.

Déorwyn was antsy to get back so that she could slip away and leave Lothlórien, but the Lady Galadriel held her hand, motioning her to walk with her. She spoke through her mind.

I know of your plans to follow them, Déorwyn. I cannot stop you. This is your destiny. Whatever is to come is your choice now. I know not if Boromir will fall or not, but I know this trip will bring you sorrow and great happiness. I have had your horse outfitted as well as a cloak to shield you from harm. Now, before Haldir can get to you, go my child, and be safe.

Déorwyn couldn't believe her ears. She had no time to loose. She hugged the Queen and ran off toward Chestnut. She fastened the cloak around her, and bolted off, following the riverbed that the fellowship took.

She was traveling for three hours with no sign of anyone. But she kept on riding.

The woods were silent. Too silent. She was in a forest somewhere she had never been before. All of the sudden, she heard a great horn blow.

THE HORN OF GONDOR! She thought. She braced herself. She knew what was coming.

She dismounted Chestnut and raced after the horn, for it called two more times. As she approached the noise, she saw Boromir fighting.

Just then, a loud WHISP was herd. An arrow came flying by her, just missing her ear.

"DÉORWYN!" Boromir cried. She ran toward him, pulling out an arrow and her bow. As a foe charged toward her, he was caught off guard by a rock thrown at his head by one of the Hobbits. With his guard down, Déorwyn let an arrow go and it killed the monster that was in her path. Now that she was up close, these were not ordinary orcs. They were bigger, stronger, and more aggressive and bared a white hand on their armor and faces.

Boromir looked on, happy that his sister had killed the monster. She could see in his eyes now. Something had happened and he looked like her brother again. As she breathed a sigh of relief, a thick, black arrow struck him as his back was turned.

Déorwyn cried out, but it was too late. Boromir was hit again, and again by arrows and kept on getting back up to protect his sister, Merry and Pippen. He finally succumbed. As she went to her brother, she was trampled, and carried off with the two Hobbits. She looked back, screaming and kicking, to her brother, who lay lifeless on the ground. She kenw what came next. Before she could protest and squirm her way out of the clutches of the monster, she was met with the broad side of a club.

She did not wake up for hours. When she did, she was being carried through the land on the back of the enemy. Merry was to her right and Pippin was to her left. They did not stop. They were heading fast somewhere, and she could only guess that it was Isenguard.

"Lady Déorwyn, Déorwyn! Déorwyn!" Pippin cried. "Merry! I think she's dead!"

"Déorwyn!" Merry Cried. "Please, my friend, she's sick, she needs water!"

They all laughed, as one poured a hot, thick, disgusting concoction down her throat. She gagged and spat it out. The Uruk smashed her head against the armor of the Uruk she was carried on.

"PLEASE!" Pippin cried.

"STOP IT. We are to bring them to Sauruman unharmed and unspoiled. Now let's move"

Sauruman. That was a name she hadn't heard in ages. The one time she saw him, he was walking out on the Pelenor Fields with Gandalf. He was a mighty wizard. However, she did not think him capable of such company as these monsters. What were they? Her strength was failing her. As they kept running, she felt herself shift back into sleep.

She woke up again on the ground five yards from the hobbits. She knew not where they were, only that they were on the outskirts of a forest, which made creaking noises as the wind blow through it.

"Merry, she's awake!" Pippin whispered.

"Where are we" Déorwyn asked, her head pounded, her body felt like it was broken all over. "Who are they?"

"As to the former question, I can't answer, geography not being my strong suit and all." Pippin said, only to be shushed by Merry"

"Uruk-Hai" Merry whispered. "Gandalf warned us of Uruks. Saurumon has bread them to be the most effective army Middle Earth has ever seen.

The Uruks were fighting with each other about not having anything to eat, when one of them eyed Merry and began to rush toward his arm with his mouth open. He was thrown back by another Uruk and reminded of Sauruman's orders. A physical fight then broke out amongst the Uruks, and Déorwyn took this chance to crawl over to the hobbits.

"Come, we must make for the forest." She said hastily. And Uruk caught her trying to free them from their bonds and carried her over to the opposite side of the camp. It was the Uruk who had rushed after Merry's arm.

"Sauruman said nothing about human girls! What say we cook her for supper!" it said.

The fighting stopped as they all eyed her with hunger in their eyes.

"What say, we have our way with her first. Who wants first go!" she was the most frightened she had ever been before in her life. She instantly shut her legs and held them close together tight. The Uruks were around her trying to hold her down. She was wriggling and screaming at the top of her lungs. Merry and Pippin were fighting against their own bonds to get free and save her. Her head was caught in the hands of one Uruk as on head butted her with all of its might.