You sat on a rock, throwing pebbles into the Anduin river as Legolas and Gimli came rushing onto the beach.

" Hurry! Frodo and Sam have reached the eastern shore."

You looked up to see the Elf pushing one last boat into the water but no one else moved. You glanced over at Aragorn who was strapping on Boromir's bracers, dirty hair falling into his face. You had helped the ranger send Boromir off into his watery grave.

Legolas looked between you and Aragorn, his face a bit crestfallen. "You mean not to follow them."

Aragorn finished up strapping on the Gondorian bracers as you stood, tossing the rest of your pebbles to the ground. You nodded to the two hobbits rushing deeper into the woods on the other side of the bank.

"Frodo's fate is no longer in our hands." You looked at Aragorn, his head nodding in agreement.

"Then it has all been in vain," Gimli sighed, his eyes full of sorrow, "The Fellowship has failed."

Aragorn looked up, his eyes looking to each of his friends, landing on you a moment longer before he stepped forward, clasping the two males on the shoulder.

"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." He stooped down to pick up a fallen dagger, handing it to you with a small smile. "Let's hunt some Orc."

Gimli smiled wide. "Yes!"

Legolas nodded and you took the dagger from Aragorn, sheathing it in your waistband. The four of you took off,  your footfalls the only sound in the large expanse of the forest. Renewed excitement filled our blood and your body as you jumped over and dodged fallen orcs on your way to save the halflings.

For three days you ran, tracking and trekking across the slope, hill, and mountain stopping occasionally for rest and refuel. It was nearing the end of the third day, the darkness of night and additional spells of Saruman made it fairly difficult to see anything even by moon and starlight. Therefore, Aragorn called to make camp, Legolas taking first watch as Gimli took no time at all to fall asleep. 

You sat by the fire, throwing dry twigs and clumps of dirt into the flames, the light casting a warm yellow hue around you. Aragorn had just returned to the camp with three small rabbits, wordlessly handing them to you to prepare. You took them and got to work making something edible out of them. You glanced up at the ranger as he got comfortable across from you, the fire dancing off his dark eyes as he gazed at you.

You looked down at the food, deciding to dry it out to eat on the run. "Do you think we will reach them in time?" You didn't mean your voice to come out so quietly but you worried that if you were any louder he would hear your worry for the small Hobbits.

Aragorn leaned his arms forward onto his knees as he fiddled with one of his knives. "They are stronger than you think." He glanced up at you, a kind look in his eyes, "We will find them."

You nodded, looking back down at the rabbits as you continued to dry them out. But something was bothering you in the back of your mind. Closing your eyes, you let out a breath and tried your best to muster up the courage to ask him.

But it was like he could read your mind, his voice making your eyes open. "Speak your mind (Y/n). I can assure you listening to you talk is much more enjoyable than Gimli's snores."

At that exact moment, the Dwarf snored loudly before turning over. The two of you laughed quietly, easing your worried mind. You stood, taking a bit of the already dried rabbit with you as you came to sit by the ranger. Aragorn turned to you, gazing at your hesitant figure but taking the piece of rabbit you handed him.

You looked at the fire and took a bite of the meat before talking. "What do you plan to do?" You turned your head to look at him as he ate his piece of meat, "After all of this is over, what do you plan to do? How are we to live again?"

Aragorn didn't hesitate as he leaned forward again, matching your gaze on the fire in front of him. "We are to live without the fear of the dark forces rising. Perhaps do what it is you wished to do before joining us." He turned his head, his hair falling off his shoulders as he looked to you with a small smile. "Consider becoming a mother what with how you doted on the Hobbits."

You nearly choked on the small bit of rabbit, coughing as Aragorn grabbed an oil skin with a small smile. You took a drink, wiping your mouth with the back of your hand, glaring at the rugged man.

"I do not 'dote'. Perhaps I worry over them, but how can you not? They were not trained for this type of life." Your voice got quiet near the end but you kept eye contact with Aragorn, even as he seemed to move just a tad closer.

"Are you sure you are still talking about the hobbits?" He whispered as he looked into your eyes with a gentle yet challenging kindness. "They chose this, no one forced them. They will do what they can to stay alive. Hobbits are resourceful creatures."

You nodded absentmindedly. "Of course they are."

Legolas came up to the camp, his blond hair nearly glowing as he drew closer to the fire. "(Y/n)." It was your turn for the watch.

You looked up at him, nodding. But before you could stand you felt a hand on your thigh making your heart stop as well as your body pause as you glanced down at the hand and its owner.

Aragorn stood but not before whispering to you. "Sleep." Gimli snored making the three of you turn to him, holding back a bit of laughter. "If you can," the ranger smirked slightly before leaving to take the next shift.

You watched him go as you finished the last bit of your rabbit. Legolas sat down on a rock as you reached for a piece of Lambas bread, tossing it to him before you went to go lay down, asking the Elf to take the remaining rabbit off the fire before he, too, got some rest. You rolled out your lone roll against the side of a rock, using your Elvin cloak as a blanket. You closed your eyes and thought back to what Aragorn had said, his eyes looking back at you with hope and courage despite the lack thereof that you yourself felt on the matter of finding Mery and Pippin. But if there was anyone you trusted, it was the ranger from the north.

~~~~~~

You breathed heavily as you took a moment to watch Aragorn press his ear to the ground, his brows pinched in concentration. Legolas looked around taking in everything as Gimli huffed and puffed from behind. You kept walking ahead, not wanting to waste a moment. Aragorn stood, his gaze hardened.

"Their pace has quickened. They must have caught our scent. Hurry!" Then he took off again, his hand resting on your shoulder a moment before you ran after him.

Legolas came up close behind but you paused a moment to call back to the dwarf. "Come on Gimli, we are drawing closer!"

"Three day's and night's pursuit... no food, no rest, and no sign of our quarry but what bare rock can tell," The Dwarf growled, making you smile as you continued running.

After what felt like hours, the four of you came upon a valley where you all took a moment to catch your breath. Something on the ground caught your eye. But before you said anything Aragorn had already made his way over to it, kneeling down to pick it up.

You came up behind him and gazed over his shoulder at the leaf pin in his hands, his thumb rubbing away the dirt. Aragorn looked up to you, his eyes shining with hope.

"Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall."

Legolas turned to look at the both of you. "They may yet be alive."

"Less than a day ahead of us," Aragorn said as he stood, handing you the pin, "Come!"

You smiled down at the leaf, praising the Hobbit that dropped it. There was a grunt from behind you and you turned, seeing Gimli picking himself up off the ground. You smiled a bit wider, cupping your face as you yelled back at him.

"Come Gimli! I told you we were close!"

"I'm wasted on cross-country. We dwarves are natural sprinters. Very dangerous over short distances," Gimli halfheartedly shouted back.

Just a few leagues more and you came upon the edge of a hill giving you a wonderful view of the land below. Aragorn and Legolas came up beside you. You looked to each of them, nodding to the land they beheld.

"Rohan. Home of the horse-lords."

"There's something strange at work here. Some evil gives speed to these creatures, sets its will against us." Aragorn stated as Legolas moved higher up on the hill, looking over the land with his enhanced gaze.

You narrowed your eyes as you looked up at him, the wind starting to pick up. "Legolas, what does your elf eyes see?"

"The Uruks turn Northeast. They are taking the hobbits to Isengard!"

"Saruman," Aragorn breathed. You could hear the disgust in his voice.

You turn to Aragorn, your eyes wide with worry as the ranger practically glared in the general area of the horde of Uruki taking away your friends. Subconsciously, you stood close to him as you turned to look over the land, your arm bumping into his. Slowly, you felt his hand slid into yours, encasing your worry with warm reassurance. In that moment, you felt like you could do anything. 

You looked up at him just as he turned his gaze to you, his eyes holding your own as securely as he held your hand. "We will not leave them to a fate worse than death."

"Then let us not wait a moment longer." You smiled lightly up at him and gave his hand a squeeze before letting go and taking off down the hill with renewed vigor.

Aragorn couldn't' help but let a small smile pull at his lips as he watched you race after the Hobbits you had claimed as no less than your own children.

"Not a moment more," he said under his breath before he, too, took off down the mountain, Legolas and Gimli close behind.

Reader Inserts with The Lord Of The Rings men? Whoever thought of such a preposterous idea? So preposterous I just have to join in. Stay tuned ;)