Reforging the Fellowship

By Michael Weyer

Obviously based more on the movies than the novels. I can't explain why I've had this idea in my head for so long but I do want to finally get it out. All comments welcomed and hope you enjoy.

Part one: Parth Galen

He knew he was going to die. And yet oddly it didn't seem to bother him too badly. After all he had done, death was the least Boromir could expect. He had betrayed the Fellowship, betrayed Frodo and was willing to betray his own people just for the chance to hold the Ring. But now…now he had a chance to make up for it.

His sword flashed over and over again, orc after orc going down. Boromir had never felt like this before. There was no reason or fear within him. All he could think of was the fight, to kill as many of the orcs as possible, to keep Merry and Pippin safe.

And then the arrow struck.

He had been moving in a spinning motion as he sliced an orc across the back and thus the blow that should have hit him in the chest instead pierced his upper shoulder. He cried out as he staggered back. Another of the strange orcs rushed him and smashed him with its shield, sending him down to the ground. Boromir hissed in pain as he tried to rise up. He blocked the swinging blade of the orc but not the kick to the jaw that made him see stars.

Boromir blinked, trying to regain his bearings. He heard some cries and recognized Merry and Pippin yelling. He rolled about, looking up and managed, in his haze, to see the two hobbits being dragged away by the rest of the orcs. He tried to rise up, getting to his knees and heard a whistling sound cutting through the air. He looked up to see an arrow flying through him. Just as he was about to realize it was headed for his heart, there was a blur as something flew through the air and cut the arrow away.

The massive Uruk-hai general started, confused as to what happened. He and Boromir both looked to where a small dagger was stuck in a tree nearby. Shaking his head, the Uruk mounted another arrow into his crossbow and prepared to take aim.

Just before he fired, Aragon leaped from nowhere to tackle him to the ground. Boromir groaned as he lay back, clutching at the arrow. He suddenly saw a shadow fall over him and heard a soft voice say. "Be still. Let me help."

Aragon ducked the blow from the Uruk and stabbed him in the stomach. Instead of reacting in pain, the Uruk shuffled closer, snarling, as if daring Aragon to strike. Aragon thus obliged him, yanking his sword out and throwing it in an arc that beheaded the Uruk.

Heaving for breath, Aragon turned away toward the spot where Boromir lay. He stayed in place, his expression shocked as he took in the sight before him. He marched forward and placed a hand on the shoulder of the figure leaning over Boromir. "What are you doing here?" he hissed.

Arwen looked up at him, her face impassive as she gripped the arrow in Boromir's shoulder. "I am attempting to save his life." She turned back to face the fallen man. "This…will hurt."

Boromir grit his teeth and gave a short nod. Arwen nodded back and then pulled the arrow out, Boromir unable to hold back a gasp of pain as it exited the wound. Arwen threw the arrow aside and reached into her pocket. She pulled out a small vial and poured the contents into the wound. She held her hand over it, closing her eyes and whispering as she did her best to heal the wound.

Boromir looked up at Aragon with pain in his eyes. "They took Merry and Pippin. I couldn't stop them." He tried to shuffle up. "Frodo. Where is Frodo?"

Aragon kneeled and placed a hand on Boromir's good shoulder. "I sent Frodo away."

Boromir relaxed. "Then you did what I could not." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I tried to take the Ring from him. I am…so sorry."

Aragon patted his shoulder. "You fought bravely. In my eyes, that redeems you." He looked to Arwen. "How is he?"

She pulled her hand back as she reached over and tore a piece of cloth off a fallen Uruk. "The wound was not too deep. He will recover quickly." She began to bind the arrow shot as best as she could.

Hearing footsteps, Aragon turned to see Legolas and Gimli rushing up. Both stopped, thrown at the sight of Arwen kneeling before Legolas. "My lady," Legolas said with a respectful bow. "What are you doing here?"

"My question exactly," Aragon said as he placed a hand under her arm and pulled her to her feet and away from the others. She was dressed as she had been when she helped get Frodo away from the Nazgul, her hair flowing away from her beautiful face as she met his eyes. "You should be sailing to your new lands," he hissed. "I told you…"

"You told me what you felt was the right thing," she said, her voice cool. "You told me what you saw as the truth. I saw it differently." She brushed her hair back. "I chose to come after you."

"Does your father know you are here?"

She smiled thinly. "I would imagine he does by now. But if he knows me at all…" She reached over to touch his chest. "He knows where I follow."

Aragon placed his hand on hers for a moment, touched by her words. Suddenly, he shook her off and turned away. "You should go back now."

"I am not leaving. And you cannot simply make me go back."

"Can't I?" He turned back and fixed her with his hardest glare.

She simply returned it, her face impassive and he felt his attempt fail. He looked away to where Gimli and Legolas were helping Boromir to his feet. "The Halflings," Boromir hissed. "We have to find them quickly."

Legolas looked at the ground, frowning at the Uruks. "These are not normal orcs. The symbol, the white hand…it is not a symbol of Mordor."

"No," Aragon agreed. "Sauron would not want his right name spoken so freely."

"Urk-hai." The men turned to face Arwen. "I heard my father speak of them. Gandalf told him that Saruman has been using dark magics to blend orcs and trolls. Creating a race of fighters than can travel in day, that are far stronger than normal orcs. All pledged to Saruman's service."

"They must have been tracking us for some time," Legolas stated. "I knew I felt someone nearby…"

Boromir winced as he rubbed his shoulder. "And now they have Merry and Pippin."

"Not for long," Aragon said. "Come, we must move quickly."

"Wait," Arwen stated as she looked around. "Where is Gandalf the Grey?"

A long silence went up from her companions. "I assume," Aragon said. "You did not stop in Lothlorien."

She shook her head. "No. I passed by via the old ways my people have long followed. I had believed you would be further along by now and did not expect to meet you so early. It was by chance I was riding when I heard the sounds of battle and came to investigate."

"For which I am most grateful," Boromir stated with a kind smile. The smile vanished as he looked down. "We were forced to travel through the Mines of Moria. There Gandalf…fell in battle with a creature from below."

Arwen closed her eyes and whispered an Elvish prayer under her breath. The glum mood continued for a moment before Gimli coughed. "Come on. We're wasting time and letting those beasts get too far ahead."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

They made their way to the shore and found one of the boats missing with footprints beside it. "Halfing prints," Legolas observed.

"Frodo went alone," Aragon stated. After a pause, he smiled softly. "And I would guess Sam went with him."

"Then we must hurry to catch up with them," Legolas said as he began to pull one boat away. He paused as he realized no one else was following and turned to face Aragon. He was adjusting his sword and belt with a strong look on his face. "You mean not to follow them," Legolas said in understanding.

Aragon gazed to him. "Frodo's path is now his own."

"Then the Fellowship has failed," Gimli grimly stated.

"Perhaps," Boromir said. His demeanor was strong, stronger than Aragon had ever seen before. "But if we cannot aid the Ring-Bearer, we can at least aid his companions."

"You're right, "Aragon stated. "As long as we hold true to the ideas that brought us together…the Fellowship will live on." He turned and began to check over his weapons, to ensure all were ready. "Gather your things. We travel light." He looked to his companions with a grim smile. "Let us hunt some orc."

Gimli let out a yell of approval, Legolas smiled broadly, Arwen bowed her head and Boromir felt a great weight lift off him as he prepared to make the most of this second chance he had been given.