11. Elvish stalker

I didn't sleep well that night at all, troubled as I was by nightmares all containing Sauron back into power, torturing those I cared the most about. No more trees, no more birds, no more rivers, no more... No more Legolas, no more Gandalf, no more Frodo, no more Samwise. No more Alaric, and no more Faramir.

That man had managed to creep under my skin quicker than anyone or anything else. It was scaring me to death to ever think of him tortured, or dead, lying on the ground, his blue eyes glassy and opening onto thin air...

"Aniha, wake up! Wake up!"

I opened my eyes and started as Frodo's face was so close to mine. He seemed as restless as I was. "Frodo?"

"You were screaming. Think you were having a nightmare."

I touched my face and felt the tears there. I wiped them away and slowly nodded. "Yes, I was having a nightmare. Sorry for disturbing your rest, my dear Hobbit."

"I wasn't sleeping anyway."

"I know." I watched as his sky blue eyes met mine, simply curious. "I feel the burden as do you. The Ring as deadly powers over my kind."

He nodded. "I understand."

I sighed and slowly stood up, grabbing my bow and quiver. "I'm going on a walk."

Frodo stood up as well and wrapped his slender arms around my waist, pulling me into a hug I didn't expect. "You don't intend on coming back. Do not lie." He pulled back. "Go, before Faramir comes to wake us up."

I smiled and ruffled his brown curly hair. "Do take care of yourself, perian."

"I will try. And if I can't, Sam will."

I chuckled slowly. "Aye he will." Then I could feel my gaze darkening. "Goodbye, Frodo."

"Goodbye, Aniha." And he turned around, slid back into his covers and didn't look at me again.

I sighed once more and walked out of the cave.

I pushed a silent hand onto the wet stone, and water talked to me, giving me directions I'd be needing to escape these caves without any Gondorian to see me.

Unfortunately for me, once I was out, a voice came behind me.

"Aniha!"

The pain and disbelief in that voice made it impossible not to turn around, and I met Faramir's pained face from afar.

I shook my head and let myself fall from a cliff onto a lower path, leaving his gaze.

My chest hurt.

You did the right thing, Maheran. Now hide, and follow their company in the morn. It is the only way.

I nodded to the Earth speaking to me, though it had no eyes. Thank you, Earth my friend, for your kind counsel.

You are the only hope of these lands to ever survive this war. Do not ever let a Man cloud your judgment.

I closed my mind to these thoughts and let it wander far away, to where I knew a great battle was preparing.

I did wonder if Gandalf had foreseen this.

The bonding between Maheran and mere human never usually happened.

And yet nothing told me Faramir was a mere human.

I sighed again and jumped down a few paths to get closer to the base of the mounts. Emin Arnen was staring at me from behind, and would I look, I could swear I'd see a black figure far away on the grey stone.

I shook my head, again, off these thoughts.

Faramir had already made me feel insecure enough.

Low on the main path leading north to Osgiliath, I found the ruins of the oliphants and mercenaries that had been killed the day prior. I took the opportunity to pick up anything useful, from arrows – both mine and Gondorian – to supplies.

After half a day, I had ventured far north enough to see the broken towers of Osgiliath far ahead. A Man's eye would not have seen it, but I did.

And these towers screamed at me.

Do not come here!

I settled my camp on a hidden path close to the main one, and it was not long before night that I heard them coming.

Heard both their paces and the cries of Gollum, still struggling in his cuffs.

I pushed an instinctive hand onto the soil.

Are they all there, Earth my dear?

Aye, Maheran, all the Ithilien guard has come down, and the Hobbits and Stoor with it.

I silently growled.

All of them? And who would defend Ithilien without the best of human archers?

I cursed under my breath then stilled when the first scouts passed me. I remained unnoticed, but that might have been because of the late hour and the look of tiredness on every man's face.

Was it a turn of destiny, I couldn't say, but they stopped not five yards away from my hiding place, and settled their tents and campfires. I could easily make Frodo's and Sam's figures in the faint light, and Frodo seemed even more restless than that morning.

The Ring was calling.

It sensed that it was coming closer every day of its release.

When later that night the Men went to sleep, except for Alaric and a youngster called Dòlan, I peaked from behind my rock and started crawling into the mud and wet plants that separated me from the Captain's tent.

It was probably foolish, but I had to make sure he was right.

I remained silent as a ghost, and the watchmen didn't see me when I lifted a corner of the linen and slid in.

Faramir wasn't sleeping. But I already knew that.

And he felt me come in.

That I didn't except.

"Have you come back to kill me?"

I started at his rough and stiff voice. But if he wanted to play angry, I could as well. "Had I come to kill you, Man, you'd already be lying dead on the ground."

He still didn't turn around to face me. And I didn't mind. I really didn't want to stay trapped under his gaze when all I wanted was to yell at him for his imprudence. "Then what have you come here to do, She-Elf?"

Not even once had he called me that, and even in his mouth, it sounded like an insult. "I was merely passing by. I'm on my way north to offer my services to the Dark Lord Sauron. Perhaps that's the only thing I can do, seeing as you are yourself about to give him his precious ring back."

This time Faramir, out of stun and anger also I suppose, whirled around, his eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about? The Ring will go to my father! To Gondor!"

"As if your father had enough willpower not to succumb its trickery!" I wanted to slap him so bad I stood inches from his face, my hand ready to strike. "Faramir, stop being stupid, it doesn't suit you! Do you really believe your father will ever love you more because you bring death to his city?"

Faramir sneered, and to that I effectively slapped him. The look on his face could have been priceless, if he hadn't caught my wrist afterward and almost crushed it. "Never do that again, woman."

"And what power do you have over me? I am a free Elf, and I won't answer to you, especially now!"

He huffed angrily and when I tried to shake my wrist out of his grip, all he did was pulling me into his arms and crushing my bones into a hug. "Never leave again without telling me. I thought you'd die."

His sudden change of mood surprised me so much I didn't immediately process either the position we were in or the words he had spoken.

Then, of its own accord, my hand lifted to wrap around his neck and bring him closer. "Do not do anything foolish, Faramir, son of Finduilas, or I might very well be wounded for life."

And he crushed me even more.

But after a while, I processed everything that had been said, and pushed him away from me, avoiding his gaze and trying to hide a blush I didn't know could exist on my cheeks other than from a long and hard run.

"I'm leaving you now. You asked of me to say, I am."

"Where are you going?"

I shook my head and played dull. "I do not know yet. Where I am needed I suppose. I'll ask the Earth in the morning."

Out the corner of my eye I saw him nod grimly. "Then this is goodbye."

"Yes." I looked down and whirled around, facing the entry – and exit – of his tent. "I hope to see you soon, Man, and in better state."

If I half expected and hoped him to follow me, he didn't.

I don't know what made me sleep that bad that night. The current location of the One-Ring, the growing unexpected feelings the man awakened inside me, or the fact that nothing I could say or do would ever make him change his mind.

But still, I hardly slept that night.

I could have given much to have Faramir crush my ribs once again.