The sun had just risen, but Boromir was awake long before. A huge battle and a near death experience would take its toll on anyone, but Boromir was stronger than that. He gathered the materials together so they would be ready to head out once the others woke up. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli remained with Boromir, agreeing to help him find the hobbits.

"Boromir," he heard Aragorn say, "Did you rest?"

"Yes, for a moment," Boromir said as he continued to gather the things together.

"You need to rest. Legolas was able to bring you back this time but it will not protect you from further harm. You have to build your strength before we head out."

"I can't! I failed them, all of them. Frodo, Merry, and Pippin. How could I rest when it was my doing that drove them where they are now?" Boromir shouted, stopping what he was doing and turning to Aragorn.

"Frodo had made his decision long before you confronted him. You wronged him, yes, but I let him go."

"The little ones? They chose to become prisoners to those abominations?"

"We will find them, Boromir. Have faith in them, have faith in us. You cannot blame yourself," Aragorn said as he gripped Boromir's shoulder. It was obvious Boromir had not completely accepted what Aragorn said, but he reached out and grabbed Aragorn's shoulder also.

"We will. We have to."

By then, Gimli and Legolas had begun to stir and soon they woke up. Gimli turned to look for some sign of food being prepared and Legolas turned toward Aragorn and Boromir.

"Do we head northeast, or do we follow the river?" he asked as he slid on his bow.

"We will follow the river southeast. The remaining tracks lead that direction. We must make fast, they have created some distance between us," Aragorn said.

"You might be able to live off of nuts and berries while on the hunt, but dwarves need a diet of protein, sausage, pork!" an angry Gimli said as he stomped towards them.

"Gimli, we have no time—" Aragorn said.

"It is made but we must move now," Boromir said as he put together Gimli's sausage. Boromir understood what Aragorn meant, but he couldn't help but blame himself. The image of the orcs carrying the young hobbits away burned in his mind. The sound of them crying, calling out to him rang in his ears. If only he had been stronger, he could have saved them. He killed dozens of orcs, but allowed one to stop him. He protected them for so long until he was shot down.

The wounds in his chest still throbbed from where the black arrows once pierced him. The pain was a reminder to him that he wasn't strong enough. He allowed Merry and Pippin to be captures. The only way he could forgive himself was if he got to them before they found themselves in too much danger. Boromir knew they had to leave as quickly as possible. He urged the other three to grab only what was necessary so they could leave quickly.

Aragorn, Legolas, and Boromir ran swiftly, often calling back to Gimli who trailed behind. After running across plains and mountainous terrains, the company came across a small embroidered leaf pendant imbedded into the ground. The pendant was used to pin their cloaks. It had surely belonged to one of the hobbits.

"Not idle do the leaves of Lórien fall," Aragorn said as he examined the broach.

"They may yet be alive," Legolas replied.

"Less than a day ahead of us. Come!" Boromir replied almost as quickly as he began running. Aragorn and Legolas followed him quickly, creating more distance between them and the dwarf.

"Come on, Gimli," Legolas turned to say. The dwarf, however, was not gifted in long distance running.

"I'm wasted on cross-country. We dwarves are natural sprinters! Very dangerous over short distances!" Gimli replied between his heavy breaths. His massive feet stomped on the ground while supporting his wide body.

As the company began traveling in higher, mountainous terrains, Legolas had to begin scouting to see where the orcs had gone.

"The Uruks turn northeast. They're taking the hobbits to Isengard!" he proclaimed.

"Saruman," Boromir answered, "Let's go! We cannot let them widen the distance. The hobbits will not stand a chance there."

Boromir, who was most determined to save Merry and Pippin, led the hunt. Though he was not naturally the fastest, his motivation and preservation enabled his speed to increase. He often ended up half a league ahead of Gimli, the slowest member of the company. They journeyed far in little time, determined to reclaim their hobbits before they were handed over to the traitorous Saruman.

They decided to rest for the night. They knew that traveling while exhausted would only hinder them. They slept in the mountains, hidden behind rocks so enemies could not spot them. When they woke, Legolas noticed the sun was red.

"A red sun rises. Blood has been spilt this night," he said.

"Come on, we must hurry!" Boromir shouted as he sprung forward. He would not stop to talk. The longer they rested, the worst theiri chances became of saving Merry and Pippin. As they ran, a herd of riders ran away from them.

"Riders of Rohan, what news of the mark?" Aragorn shouted to them. In an instance they turned their horse and headed towards the four hunters.

"What business does an Elf, two man, and a dwarf have in the Riddermark? Speak quickly!" the head horseman, whose name was Eomer, said.

"We are hunting orc. They have two of our friends and the longer we wait the further they get. If you could help us in anyway," Boromir said with a bit more emotion than was needed.

"The orc are not getting any further. In fact, they are all dead. We slaughtered them last night," Eomer told them.

"The hobbits! Did you see them?" Boromir insisted.

"They would be small – only children to your eyes," Aragorn added.

"We left none alive. We piled the carcasses and burned them," Eomer pointed to a large pile of scorched bodies.

"Dead?" Gimli said, devastated.

"Look for your friends. But do not trust to hope, it is forsaken in these lands," Eomer said while laying a hand on Gimli's shoulder, "We ride north!" the company of horsemen turned and rode away, leaving the four hunters to search for Merry and Pippin.

"They cannot be dead. They are so small, it would have been easy to miss them," Boromir said while running to the pile of bodies. He grabbed tossing armour and shields until he came across a small belt, one that was given to Pippin from Galadriel. The other three began to assume their death.

"We failed them," Gimli said.

"Hiro ith ab 'wanath," Legolas said. "May they find peace in death."

"They are not dead, they cannot be!" Boromir said as his voice cracked. He frantically pacing back and forth looking for anything that indicated what happened to them. "Look! Tracks! Small enough to belong to a hobbit!" While Legolas and Gimli did not give it much thought, Aragorn examined them.

"A hobbit lay here, and the other," he said while moving to another spot and examining different tracks. "Their hands were bound... Their bonds were cut." He continued to run, occasionally stopping to examine more tracks. The other three followed him, Boromir stayed close behind Aragorn in case he missed anything. They continued to run until they arrived at the entrance of Fangorn Forest. Fangorn Forest was known for horror and death. No smart man would find himself in there out of his own free will, yet the two hobbits sought out that forest for refuge.

"What evil drove them there?" Gimli said, now fearing the hobbits' safety more than he did when they were prisoners of the orcs. Before they could even say anything, Boromir disappeared in the trees in search of the hobbits. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli hesitantly followed him. They ran in the direction Boromir disappeared and were eventually blinded by a bright white light. They then heard Boromir's voice.

"Gandalf, is it really you?" The three hunters looked into the light and saw the outline of a wizard. As the light faded, they were surprised and overwhelmed with joy to find Gandalf before them. "Gandalf, the two young hobbits are gone, taken prisoners by Saruman's orcs," Boromir explained, "They are taking them to Isengard!"

"Then we shall search for them," Gandalf replied. The five companions discussed all that had happened since their last encounter, then they headed to Isengard in hopes of reaching the hobbits in time.

They journeyed for a day and a half before reaching the forest on the outside of Isengard. They traveled through it, nervous what they would find. Boromir did his best to act hopeful. He remained several paces ahead of the group, constantly reminding everyone how important it was that they kept moving. But he, too, had many doubts. He worried they were too late. Merry and Pippin were much too small and too young to defend themselves from hundreds of orcs, let alone Saruman.

Upon reaching the clear, Boromir was met by some familiar faces. Sitting atop a huge rock sat the two young hobbits, smoking Longbottom Leaf. The two were laughing with each other until they saw Boromir. They both beamed and jumped off the rock as Boromir did off his horse. They ran to each other and Boromir hugged them both tightly.

"I'm sorry I failed you both," Boromir said as he began to cry.

"We thought you died, Boromir!" Merry said.

"You didn't fail us. You allowed us to show how useful we could actually be!" Pippin said as the rest of the group appeared from out of the forest. He turned and pointed to the tower. "Welcome to Isengard!"

"You young rascals! A merry hunt you've led us on and now we find you feasting and... and smoking!" Gimli grumbled, though he was indeed happy to see them.

"We are sitting on a field of victory and enjoying a few well-earned comforts," Pippin argued. Merry leaned forward and began blowing smoke circles.

That night, the group had a feast to celebrate Merry and Pippin. They drank ale, smoked different weeds, and ate assortments of meats. Merry and Pippin sat next to Boromir. They excitedly told Boromir of their entire journey. They told him about Treebeard, how they met him, and how they helped him take over Isengard. Treebeard and the rest of the Ents determined that they were a part of this war after seeming what Saruman had down to the trees of the forest. They grouped together to help bring down Isengard. Boromir listened intently, amazing at all the hobbits had accomplished. He felt foolish for worrying and felt so much pride that they helped defeat Saruman and take down Isengard. However, he was much more proud that, even after seeing the horrors of the war and experiencing it first hand, the two hobbits were just as loving and happy as they were before. Boromir couldn't help but interrupt their story and hug them one more time.

"I'm so proud of you both," he said to them.

"What? Did you not think we could do it?" Pippin asked with his smile that spread across his face.

Boromir laughed and said, "Oh well, maybe I didn't think you would get this far on your own. I knew you had it in you, I'm just really proud that you both found it." Merry and Pippin both smiled at Boromir.

"We're glad you found us," Merry said. The rest of the night the group spent celebrating their reunion. This would be the last night before yet another journey. Though they had found each other, they were still two members short. They agreed that, in the morning, they would head out in search for Frodo and Sam. The world was a big place, however. There was no telling where the other two hobbits had found themselves, or what danger lies ahead.