Three chapters in a day! Beat that!


Chapter Nine

"This is how you would serve your city? You would risk its utter ruin?" Denethor asks Faramir. Faramir is standing in front of his father while Alyssa and Ryan are behind pillars.

"I did what I judged to be right." Faramir replies.

"What you judged to be right! You sent the Ring of power into Mordor in the hands of a witless Halfling! It should have been brought back to the citadel to be kept safe. Hidden. Dark and deep in the vaults…not to be used." Denethor says, his eyes flickering unnaturally. "Unless, at the uttermost end of need."

"I would not use the Ring. Not if Minas Tirith were falling in ruin and I alone could save her." Faramir replies.

"Ever you desire to appear lordly and gracious as a King of old. Boromir would have remembered his father's need. He would have brought me a kingly gift." Denethor says.

"Boromir would not have brought the Ring. He would have stretched out his hand to this thing and taking it he would have fallen." Faramir replies.

"You know nothing of this matter!" Denethor yells.

"He would have kept it for his own. And when he returned you would not have known your son." Faramir explains to no avail.

"Boromir was loyal to me! Not some wizard's pupil." Denethor shouts standing and lunging for Faramir.

"Alyssa and Ryan move out from behind the pillars to stand behind Faramir, both with their weapons showing. Denethor looks at the both of them as he stumbles back against the steps.

"Father?" Faramir asks moving towards him.

Denethor looks up at him from the floor, smiling and grieving at the same time. Alyssa and Ryan know what he is seeing.

"My son." He can see Boromir behind Faramir who turns to face him and walking towards him smiling, fades away. Denethor looks at Faramir full of grief for Boromir. His face changes to one of hate. "Leave me!" He hisses at Faramir.

"Faramir do not listen to him! You were right." Alyssa says keeping step with him as Ryan goes on his other side.

"Yes, plus, father's are overrated! At least yours hasn't tried to kill you yet!" Ryan says.

"Not helping Ry!" Alyssa scolds.

"Have you heard of survival of the fittest?" She asks Faramir.

"Nay I have not." Faramir replies.

"It means that the fittest are the ones who survive. If you are weak you die. If you are strong, you survive. That is what people from our land believe." Ryan explains.

"So what you mean to say is that I am weak and I will die is that it?" Faramir asks stopping and turning towards Alyssa.

"Never! If you are strong in body you will survive. If you have muscles you survive. That is what it means. But what they don't tell us is that if you are strong in body and NOT in mind you will lose. You need body, mind, and soul. A soul, in certain spiritual, philosophical, and psychological traditions, is the incorporeal essence of a person or living thing." She tries to explain.

"Without it you are not living. Your father, wonders why your brother died when he was a mighty warrior? He had the strength and the skill, but that was all he had. He was strong in body but weak in mind and spirit." Ryan says.

"We know it does not make sense to you, heck, it doesn't even make sense to us. But you? You are strong in body and mind. What you need is spirit." Alyssa says.

"And that my friend is where we come in!" Ryan says grabbing his arm and dragging him to the edge.

"Not all hope is lost. In fact, hope is coming by ways of boat, literally. We will win this war." Alyssa says. "Now what should we do?" She asks.

"There is a young hobbit who needs some cheering up right now." Ryan says.

"Of course. What do you say Faramir? Want to go cheer up a young Pippin who is questioning what a hobbit could give to citadel?" She asks him.

"Very well." He replies as they go to find Pippin.


"What were you thinking Peregrin Took? What service can a Hobbit offer such a great lord of men?" Pippin asks himself as he sits on a bench.

"It was well done. A generous deed should not be checked with cold counsel." Faramir says as he walks in through a door. "You are to join the tower guard." He continues.

Alyssa and Ryan leave the two alone.

"I didn't think they would find any livery that would fit me." Pippin says standing up as Faramir approaches him.

"It once belonged to a young boy of the city. A very foolish one who wasted many hours slaying dragons instead of attending his studies." Faramir says.

"This was yours?" Pippin asks smiling.

"Yes, it was mine. My father had it made for me." Faramir says adjusting Pippins tunic.

"Well, I'm taller than you were then. Though, I'm not likely to grow anymore, except sideways." Pippin says and the two laugh.

"It never fitted me either. Boromir was always the soldier." Faramir says his smile fading. "They were so alike he and my father. Proud, stubborn even, but strong." He says.

"Nobody ever listens to us!" Alyssa shouts down at them from where her and Ryan are leaning against the wall.

Pippin smiles as Faramir chuckles. "I think you have strength of a different kind. And one day your father will see it." Pippin says.


"No one listens to us." Alyssa says to Ryan.

"I know." He replies. "Go sing, they tend to listen to that."

"Hmm, okay." She replies.

"Mennen nored dîn
Gwanwen i 'ûr bân
Sílant calad Dûn
Tollen Rochon 'Lân"
(Their race was over;
All courage gone.
A light shone in the west -
The White Rider had come.
)

May it be an evening star
Shines down upon you
May it be when darkness falls
Your heart will be true
You walk a lonely road
Oh! How far you are from home

Mornie utúlië (Darkness has come)
Believe and you will find your way
Mornie alantië (Darkness has fallen)
A promise lives within you now

May it be the shadow's call
Will fly away
May it be you journey on
To light the day
When the night is overcome
You may rise to find the sun

Mornie utúlië
Believe and you will find your way
Mornie alantië
A promise lives within you now
A promise lives within you now"

She sings, making sure Faramir can hear her.

"Alyssa?" Ryan asks her hesitantly.

"Yeah?" She replies.

"That promise we made when we were put in the orphanage?" He asks her.

"Yeah, we will always be together and we will die together. What about it?" She asks.

"Maybe we should go on our own after this." He says.

"You mean go separate directions?" She asks slowly as she stops walking.

"No, yes, no, what I mean is, perhaps… we were meant to live… our own… lives." He stumbles over his words.

"Are you breaking up with me?" She asks.

"Lyssa, we are always together, we always do everything together." He says.

"That's how we survived the orphanage so far." She says. "Ryan, you're my younger brother… If you want to go on your own after this war… If you think you'll be happy… Go for it." She says finally.

"Alyssa, we will see each other again, right?" He asks.

"That is the Valor's decision. Don't worry about it little bro, we still got time." She says.

"I'm going to go find Pippin." He says starting to walk away when he realizes Alyssa isn't following. "Aren't you coming?" He asks.

"Uh, not right now, I'm… I have to find someone." She says.

"Oh, okay, see ya." He says walking off.

"Lay down your sweet and weary head
Night is falling. You have come to journey's end.
Sleep now. Dream of the ones who came before.
They are calling from across a distant shore.
Why do you weep? What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see all of your fears will pass away.
Safe in my arms, you're only sleeping.

What can you see on the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea, a pale moon rises.
The ships have come to carry you home.
And all will turn to silver glass.
A light on the water, all souls pass.

Hope fades into the world of night
Through shadows falling out of memory and time.
Don't say we have come now to the end.
White shores are calling. You and I will meet again.
And you'll be here in my arms, just sleeping.

What can you see on the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea, a pale moon rises.
The ships have come to carry you home.

And all will turn to silver glass
A light on the water, grey ships pass
Into the West."

"Looks like I'm going to Valinor…Alone." She whispers to herself.


Okay thanks to all who reviewed!

Songs:

May it be

Lord of the Rings - Into the West (with lyric)