The Edge of a Knife

Chapter 4: The Choice

Aragorn reached the shore of the and took in the sight around him.

The bodies of orcs were scattered across the shore. Some missing arms, legs, or heads.

Aragorn's gaze quickly landed on Gimli. The dwarf had just finished off the last orc and was about to collapse.

"Gimli!"
The dwarf ooked up in surprise. "By Durin's beard! I thought you were gone lad!"

Aragorn smiled at his friend.
"I thought the same about you." His smile vanished in an instant as Aragorn saw Legolas lying on the ground.

"Don't worry, he's alive." Gimli assured him.
"Although how he got in that state is beyond me."

Aragorn kneeled down beside the elf.
"He was struck with something."
But with what? And how?

Gimli's gruff voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Well, let's get him up."

Aragorn watched in confusion as Gimli stood and walked over to the boats, which had been left alone by the orcs.

Aragorn watched him dig around in one of the boats until he found what he was looking for.

He walked back over to Aragorn who could see exactly what the dwarf was planning.

"Gimli... I do not think that is a good idea."
"Nonsense."
Gimli said as he walked over to the edge of the river.
"He'll be thanking me later."

Aragorn shrugged and backed away from the elf. Gimli stood over him with a look of pure delight as he held one of Sam's pots over his head, which was now filled with cold water.

Without another word Gimli dumped the water over the elf. It worked immediately.

Legolas shot up gasping and soaking wet.
"Legolas?" Aragorn approached his friend cautiously, careful not to startle the elf anymore than he already was.

Suddenly Legolas sprang at Aragorn. His hands went for his throat as he pinned Aragorn to the ground. His eyes were wild and filled with anger.

"Legolas!" Gimli struggled to pull him off.

Legolas froze. He looked down at Aragorn in horror as he realized what he was doing.

He released him and backed away. Aragorn stood to his feet, gasping for air.

"Aragorn..."
"It's alright Legolas."
Aragorn faced his friend who was mortified at what he had just done.

"What happend?" Aragorn asked him. Legolas looked at the dead orcs and then back at Aragorn.
"Boromir."

Aragorn froze.
"What about him?" Gimli asked in confusion.
"He took the Ring and betrayed the fellowship."
Aragorn said quietly.

Legolas' expression told Aragorn that he already knew.
"He attacked Frodo in the forest." Aragorn continued. "He left us when the orcs attacked."

Aragorn looked to Legolas who told his part of the story.
"He came here and told us that you and Frodo were being attacked by orcs. The hobbits went to find you and Gimli followed. Boromir was going to leave with the ring and I tried to stop him."

Legolas paused for a moment before continuing. "Orcs suddenly attacked. I was fighting them when one I was attacked from behind. It was about to kill me but Boromir stopped it."

Aragorn looked at Legolas in confusion. Boromir had saved him? Legolas continued.

"I thought he had overcome his madness but I was wrong. He took the orc's club and struck me with it. The last thing I remembered were three orcs standing over me."

Gimli then told Aragorn and Legolas everything that had happened to him and the hobbits.

Aragorn finished his part by telling them what had become of the hobbits.

The three stood in silence as they took in the situation. Boromir had taken the ring, and the hobbits had been captured by orcs.

"What are we waiting for?" Gimli asked.
"Lets go after them!"

"No." Aragorn told him firmly.
Legolas looked at his friend bewildered.
"What do you mean?"

"Frodo and Sam gave themselves up so that we could recover the Ring. We cannot let Boromir take it to Gondor."

"So we are going to leave them?" Aragorn looked in surprise at the harshness in Legolas' voice.

Legolas crossed his arms and glared at Aragorn.
"To die at the hands of orcs?" Aragorn placed a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"I do not want to leave them mellon nin. But if we don't get the ring back from Boromir-"

"I didn't come on this quest to protect a ring. I came to protect Frodo, and the rest of the hobbits."

Aragorn looked helplessly at Legolas. He didn't know what to say.

"Look at it this way elf." Both Aragorn and Legolas looked down at the dwarf. "The orcs wanted the hobbits alive, and they probably intend to keep them that way. Or else, why would they have gone through all the trouble to capture them?"

Aragorn and Legolas remained silent as the dwarf continued. "And remember Legolas, it was Frodo's wish that we recover the ring from Boromir and continue the quest. Will we succeed? Probably not."

Aragorn glanced at Legolas who refused to meet him.
"But we have try."
Gimli concluded.

Aragorn looked at Legolas who finally returned his gaze.
"If we do recover the Ring, wbo will carry it? That task was appointed to Frodo."

Aragorn didn't answer. He looked at Gimli who was looking at Legolas who was still staring at Aragorn.

"First we get the Ring back." Aragorn told them. "Then we decide who will carry it."

Gimli and Legolas exchanged a glance before turning back to Aragorn.

"What are waiting for?" Legolas said, his voice was edged with anger.

Aragorn wasn't sure if it was directed at him or someone else.

Although he was relieved that the elf would at least go with them. He walked towards the boats with Legolas and Gimli following close behind.

"Leave all that can be spared behind. We must travel light, we do not know how far Boromir has gotten."

Aragorn turned back to his friends. Both had looks of determination on their faces.
Seeing that they were ready, and wihout another word, the three hunters set off.