The Two Worlds

††Chapter Eighteen††

Chapter Eighteen

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At midnight Cody was awoken my soft voices murmuring in the night. At first she was going to fall back asleep for their voices harmonised with the gurgling stream. She felt as if she were in a dream and was about to drift off when Frodo stirred next to her. The blankets were folded onto her and his presence left her side. Once again she felt the strange nakedness that came from being away from him.

She listened in the darkness for any signs as to where to where he could have gone. She heard the light patter of his feet and the dull thud of leather soles echo off of the walls. She rolled over on the cot and saw Frodo walking down a side passage with Faramir in the lead. She shuffled out of the blankets and swung her feet over the side. When they touched the floor a shiver ran up her spine and she shook slightly.

She stood up and stretched her sore muscles one by one. Her legs ached from the endless walked and her ached as well from carrying her pack everywhere. She wished it could all be done and over with so her muscles had a chance to recover.

When she was done with her stretching she walked silently over to the tunnel Frodo had disappeared to. She could hear the roar of a water fall and felt the water droplets as they made their way through the passage. She could smell the freshness of the air and saw a faint glow at the end of the hallway. A soft breeze blew on her face and she let it caress her for it refreshed her and soothed her tired muscles.

When she was about to pursue after them a gentle hand was placed on her chest and held her back. The hand was clad in a leather glove that seemed molded to it. The palm was worn and soft from countless use but the back was dark and sturdy. Cody looked up at the owner of the hand and saw the familiar face of Boromis.

"Where are you going at such a late hour?" he asked her gently.

"Faramir has taken Frodo out through this tunnel and I was going to accompany them." she replied and looked down the passage.

"Don't you think that if they wanted you to go with them Frodo would have aroused you?" When Cody didn't say anything a smile formed on his face and he chuckled lightly, "Come with me."

Boromis turned around and began to head towards the way they had come in. When he was about to enter the passage he quickly veered to the right and disappeared into the wall. Cody gasped but was relieved when he popped his head out and asked, "Are you coming mylady?"

"Yes." she smiled and scampered over to the Ranger.

Boromis smiled at the young hobbit and slid back in the passage. It looked exactly like the other one but this one was more narrow and smelled faintly of must. The walls were cold and water dripped off of the curved ceiling.

"Boromis," Cody asked after some time.

"Yes halfling?" he responded and looked down on the child sized girl.

"Why wont Faramir let us go? He keeps saying something about his father, Denethor, and Boromir. What does any of this have to do with us?"

Boromis stopped walking and knelt down so he was the same height as Cody. He put both of his hands on her shoulders as if she were his daughter and looked into her emerald eyes and sighed before he answered, "Boromir was Faramir's older brother so he was the heir to the Steward throne."

"Wait, what do you mean was? Boromir is still alive, isn't he?" she asked a little unsure as she saw the sadness fill the Ranger's eyes.

"Were you not there?"

"Not where?"

"Boromir came to us three days ago inside an Elven canoe with his sword and shield inside with him. His horn was cloven in two and rested in his hands when we found him. Faramir is now the heir to Stewardship."