Chapter Twenty-One

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The canoes glided silently down the Anduin river. The oars dipped into the silver water with out making a single splash. Cody sat in the front with Gimli in the middle and Legolas in the back rowing. She had a hand on each side of the boat and dug her nails into the soft wood turning her knuckles white.

"Boromir, what would happen if we rocked the canoe?" she heard Pippin ask.

"Well, lets find out." Boromir teased. He grabbed each side of the canoe and began to rock it back and forth. The two hobbits were knocked over backwards and Boromir laughed in amusement. The strange man had taken a liking to the two and they were rarely seen with out one or the other.

"Oh." Cody cried softly and held on tighter.

"Do not be afraid Miss Proudfoot." Gimli said in his gruff voice.

Cody turned around to look at him and asked, "Do you know how to swim?"

"Do I know how to swim?!" he asked in disbelief. "Of course I do! I am one of the few dwarfs who can!" he said proudly.

She smiled at his remark and then asked him, "Can you tell me how?"

"Well, easier said than done but I can surly try. When you're in the water keep kicking your legs. Not a kick that you would do on land but as if you were running." Cody looked at him with confusion and when he saw this he added, "I'm not helping much, am I?" All she could do was smile and shake her head no. "Well, just keep you legs going and you will stay afloat. Also to, move your arms in circles like this."

Gimli demonstrated how to swim and Cody could not help but laugh at how silly he looked.

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Merry watched Gimli try and teach Cody how to swim while they traveled on the river. He noticed that she was having a good time with the dwarf. He wished that he had been the one to teach her how to swim but she never wanted to approach the water after that day.

He also wished that he had never shouted at her that night in Lórien. He wanted to apologize but how could he after the way he treated her? He knew that he really was a brother to her and that she loved Frodo. Actually, he was happy for her that she found someone who loved her in return. Every time they were together she seemed so happy, happier than he had ever seen her.

He envied Frodo, however, that he had her. But he was his friend and he would never tell him this. For now he had to pretend that she didn't exist and avoid her.

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That evening they came close to the end of their journey on the Anduin. The currents were faster than Aragorn had thought and carried them quickly down the river. When the sun was close to the horizon they came upon a bend in the river and everyone gasped at the sight they saw.

Two statues stood upon each side of the mighty river. Each one was made of stone and were so large it seemed impossible that any being living on the earth could have carved the Kings. Each one had a helmet on its head and a sword strapped to its side. Both of their right hands were placed in front of them as if they were telling something to stop. The left arms were bent in a right angle and had the palms face up.

Cody had to crane her neck so she could see their faces. The one on the left had the sun behind its head so it seemed as if a halo rested behind his magnificent head.

Shortly after they passed the statues they landed on a bank that was on the right of the river. They pulled the canoes up on the sandy shore and began to unpack. Cody practically fell out of the boat and onto the dry ground. She hugged the sand as if it would disappear out from under her.

The Fellowship laughed at her foolishness and she quickly joined in. She stood up and shook the white grains from her clothes and helped set up camp.

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When the sun had sunk below the horizon Cody, with a little help from Legolas, had made a fire and Aragorn began to prepare them dinner.

"Hey, I remember seeing that log up river a while ago." Sam exclaimed pointing at a piece of drift wood that bobbed in the water and came to rest on the opposite bank.

When Aragorn saw this he looked at Legolas and the two went off a ways and began to discuss something.

"What do you think their talking about?" Cody asked, leaning over to whisper to Frodo.

"I'm not sure." he replied looking over at the two. He saw that they were pointing at the opposite bank. "Surly it cant be about that piece of wood Sam pointed out."

"You never know with Strider." Cody said using the name the hobbits called the man.

They finished their dinner in silence and when everyone was done Aragorn fed the fire once more and everyone turned in.

"Tinúviel elvanui

Elleth alfirin ednelhael

O hon ring finnil fuinui

A renc getebrin thiliol."

Legolas's singing split the cold night air in half. It was clear and high like the sound of bells. Cody wanted to stay up and listen to him finish but the song lulled her into sleep. His singing and the soft roar of the waterfall in the distance seemed as if they were working together to create a beautiful piece of music.