Saruman's Best Weapon

Disclaimer: I don't own.

Chapter 3: How Have the Mighty Fallen!

Amy's eyes shot open. A quick glance around informed her of what she was afraid of: the Sues were nowhere to be seen. Mentally berating herself for not hearing them, she jumped to her feet, gaining her bearings and dashing off toward where the Fellowship should be leaving from. Hurry, hurry, hurry, her mind screamed. She skidded to a halt, her speed almost taking her to the ground. She recovered her balance and pushed her hair out of her face. A groan escaped despite her best efforts upon seeing four self-satisfied Sues sitting with the Fellowship in the boats. A voice beside her cut into her reverie. "I have a gift for you also, Amy."

"For me, Lady Galadriel?" she asked, astonished.

"Indeed. For you I have a dagger of the Galadrim. When thrown, it never misses its mark."

She took it in awe. "Thank you, Lady Galadriel! Thank you very much!"

"You are most welcome, child." In Amy's head, the lady continued, "Be strong, Amy of America. Be strong."

"I will," she replied and moved toward the boats, noting that the men must have thought of what she had been going to suggest: keep the Sues and their... targets separate. She carefully clambered into a boat with Boromir, Eydis, and Pippin. The hobbit gave her a wide grin, which she returned. Eydis appeared to be pouting, and Amy saw no need to interrupt her. Boromir spared her a nod; she returned a smile.

Most of the remainder of the day was spent rowing. Despite Boromir's protests, Amy helped him with the oars. "You can't be expecting Pippin to use one of these! They're bigger than he is!" He grudgingly admitted she was right.

They passed the Argonath and later arrived at Amon Hen. Upon stopping for the night, Amy kept a careful eye on Lily and Gwethiriel, even as Aragorn said, "We cross the lake at nightfall, hide the boats and continue on foot. We approach Mordor from the North."

Gimli huffed. "Oh, yes, 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: a festering, stinking marshland, far as the eye can see."

"Who would pick that kind of road?" Eydis scoffed.

Amy couldn't help but say, "Someone who knows much more about this place than you."

Eydis huffed. "Do you know how many times I've seen the movies?"

Amy snapped back, "Do you know how long he's lived in this world?"

The other girl simply rolled her eyes and turned her back on Amy (who didn't mind that very much). Aragorn sighed. "That is our road. I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength, Master Dwarf."

Gimli sputtered, "Recover my..."

Legolas then turned to Aragorn with urgency. "We should leave now."

"No," the Man replied. "Orcs patrol the Eastern shore. We must wait for cover of darkness."

"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."

Amy glanced around. Both Boromir and Frodo had disappeared. "Here we go," she whispered. Gwethiriel and Lily apparently also noticed the missing pair and slipped off, presumably to find them. "Wonderful," Amy muttered.

Suddenly, Merry looked around. "Where's Frodo?" he asked. Everyone immediately began glancing around, trying to spy the missing Ringbearer. He was gone. Aragorn rose and rushed away. Amy followed him.

After several minutes, the two of them finally found him. "Frodo?" Aragorn asked hesitantly.

Frodo murmured, "It has taken Boromir."

"Where is the Ring?" Aragorn demanded.

Frodo's eyes widened. "Stay away!" he shouted.

"Frodo...I swore to protect you."

Amy added, "I didn't but I would never hurt you. Or try to take the Ring."

"Can you protect me from yourselves?" the hobbit asked, showing them the Ring in his hand. "Would you destroy it?" he asked.

Aragorn reached out and closed Frodo's hand over it. "I would have gone with you to the end...into the very fires of Mordor."

"I know...Look after the others, especially Sam...he will not understand."

Aragorn gasped and drew his sword. "Go, Frodo!"

Frodo hesitated.

"Run! Run!" Aragorn called.

Frodo ran. Amy stood and drew her sword, knowing that she wouldn't be much help, but she could be some, she hoped.

"Go, Lady Amy," Aragorn said.

"No. I won't leave you to stand alone. There are too many for one to hold."

He smiled. "Thank you, but-" His argument was cut off by the arrival of the Uruk-hai. Amy began to be frightened, but she stifled it. I can't panic now. She began to stab and try to block their hits. She killed a couple, but soon help appeared in the form of Legolas and Gimli and hindrance in the form of Eliniel and Eydis. Wonder where Gwethiriel and Lily are? Probably hounding Frodo and Boro- oh dear. She quickly began to attack more viciously, but the Uruks had apparently decided to leave. They're going after Frodo! Boromir! I can't let Gwethiriel stop that! Suddenly, a ringing sound split the air. "The horn of Gondor!" Legolas called.

"Boromir!" Aragon gasped.

The group immediately began to fight their way toward the sound, where they saw Boromir lying on the ground, three arrows in his torso. "They took the little ones..." he said.

Aragorn quickly began to try to to staunch the flow of blood from Boromir's shoulder.

"Frodo...where is Frodo?" Boromir asked.

"I let Frodo go."

"Then you did what I could not. I tried to take the ring from him."

"The ring is beyond our reach now."

"Forgive me, I did not see...I have failed you all."

"No, Boromir. You fought bravely. You have kept your honor." Aragorn tried to tend to Boromir's wound.

"Leave it! It is over...the world of Men will fall and all will come to darkness and my city to ruin..Aragorn.."

"I do not know what strength is in my blood, but I swear to you... I will not let the White City fall, nor your people fail..."

"Our people...our people..."

Aragorn reached for Boromir's sword and put it in his hand. Boromir's fingers clutched the hilt.

"I would have followed you, my brother...my captain, my King."

Amy closed her eyes, trying to hide her tears. So he is gone.

"Be at peace, son of Gondor," Aragorn murmured, kissing his forehead.

Legolas and Gimli arrived now, and Aragorn stood. "They will look for his coming from the white tower...but he will not return."

Amy suddenly realized something. Where is Gwethiriel? A pink, sparkly substance on the ground caught her eye. Ah. Sue-blood, I suppose. So…if I were to guess, I'd say she tried to save Boromir…and was slain herself. Lily must be leaving with Frodo and Sam, then. I've got two more to look after. Great. Just great.

Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli gently carried Boromir's body to one of the boats and placed it inside, leaving his sword in his hands. Then, they pushed it downriver. Legolas stepped over to the other boat. "If we are quick, we will catch Frodo and Sam before nightfall."

Aragorn didn't respond.

Legolas realized, "You mean not to follow them..."

"Frodo's fate is no longer in our hands," Aragorn replied.

"Then it has all been in vain...the Fellowship has failed," Gimli anskwered.

"Not if we hold true to each other. We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death, not while we have strength left. Leave all that can be spared behind. We travel light. Let's hunt some Orc."

"Yes! Ha!" Gimli shouted.

Amy grinned. "Yeah, let's do it!" So the Three Hunters and Three Tagalongs departed.

A/N: *hides* Yeah, I know it's been over a year since I've updated this. I am so, so, so sorry about the delay! Please forgive me! Thank you for sticking with this story, despite my lengthy hiatus with it.

Anybody know where the chapter title comes from?