Chapter 12

Thunder crashed over their heads and the rain poured on the soldiers waiting on the wall. The orcs marched slowly towards them their feet moving rhythmically. When they finally stopped, vicious snarls and yells came from the black creatures. Ava stood frozen, not by the endless mass of orcs, but because of the fact that she was standing shoulder to shoulder with Boromir. She was glad her helmet covered her face glancing at the one she loved.

Boromir laughed softly listening to the dwarf and elf jest each other. "Would you like me to describe it to you or would you like me to find you a box?" Legolas said smiling down at him holding back laughter. The dwarf laughed, still trying to jump up to see beyond the wall.

Aragorn walked behind them giving orders in elvish to show no mercy. Everyone pulled out their bows and arrows, aiming them at the black army. Several long moments passed, and an arrow flew through the air, killing an orc in the front line. The leader screeched his anger and the orcs charged the wall.

Ava cleared her mind, forcing herself to focus on her target. Suddenly, several orders rang through the air to release all arrows, most killing their mark. Ava shot nearly all her arrows at the orcs until the ladders were launched onto the wall. She pulled out her sword as did everyone around her when the creatures began climbing over the wall. Ava slit one's throat, determined to protect everyone she could (especially Boromir).

She then focused her attention on the ladder killing all the appeared over the wall on her side. Black blood covered her arms and sword even through the rain. She lodged her sword into an orcs side. He growled pushing her away and jumped over the side. She gasped holding tight to the hilt of her sword.

It punched her in the stomach, merely keeping her preoccupied as his fellow creatures quickly climbed the wall. She sharply sucked in a breath, and yanked on her sword, starting to feel desperate to get it loose. The orc held onto the blade tightly, snarling at the jerking movements she's causing. She grabbed her hip knife and with a short cry, stabbed the orc in the temple, killing it.

Ava yanked her sword free and whirled around hearing another behind her. She gutted it quickly and beheaded another that took its place. Her muscles began screaming at the strain they are taking. She brought her sword up to block a blow, locking blades with a tall creature. It cried out in rage and punched her so hard in the jaw that her helmet flew off her head.

She cried out in agony silently holding her jaw and catching her balance. Ava blinked back the tears of pain, stabbing the orcs abdomen. It snarled viciously at her grasping her throat tightly. Growing desperate for air, unable to gasp for air, she thrust her sword to the hilt in his stomach.

It coughed black blood on her face, holding her very close tightening his grip on her throat. She winced yanking her weapon free from it, kicking his away. His hand slipped from her throat when it finally died and she coughed violently for air.

Boromir was fighting close by holding up his own, apparently keeping count with Gimli and Legolas in their game. Ava studied him for a moment as she gained her footing. Boromir caught a moment's break and looked around. He locked eyes with Ava and his eyes went wide then burned with anger. She gasped suddenly remember her helmet was gone and turned away quickly running into three orcs.

Several others ran past fighting Boromir, Legolas, and Gimli. She Stared up at them and acted quickly, slitting the throat of the first one. The second one screamed in agony as her sword split his stomach. His guts began spelling on the floor before falling with a thud, dead. Ava sighed preparing to strike the third, turning to it to see his sword raised above his head.

With a voiceless cry, she rolled away from his sword which landed with a loud clank on the stone beside her. He quickly raised his sword again and she winced seeing it and couldn't get to her feet. She rolled again as its sword descended once again. She misjudged the distance of floor she had though, and rolled off the wall. She quickly grabbed the edge hanging from the top of the wall, her heart pounding in her chest.

How she wished her voice was whole. The orc laughed with a chilling grunting voice. A shiver crawled down her spine hearing it. Ava looked up to him, her breath quickening. It raised his sword to cut her down. Unspeakable rage filled her being glaring darkly up at him, with nearly black eyes.

The orc froze glaring at her. His body convulsed as he tried to inhale finding he couldn't. He fell to his knees choking dropping his sword. Ava pressed against the wall, glaring darkly at him still, though very confused at what was happening to him. He dropped dead flipping over the wall's edge.

Ava sighed in relief, before looking to its lifeless body. Realization settled in on the fact that she was the one that had choked him. "Ava!" Boromir cried from above her. She quickly looked up not seeing anyone there. She mustered up what strength she had, pulling herself up on the wall, her arms now her support.

Legolas saw her and quickly ran over to her grasping her arms. She smiled up at him grateful for his help as he pulled her up. "Thank you again, Prince." Ava said caressing his cheek briefly before picking up her sword and standing with him to fight more.

"Ava why are you out here?" Legolas said sternly grasping her arm. She winced looking to him. "Please not now! Boromir's already furious with me…DUCK!" Ava shout alarmed. Legolas did so quickly and Ava swung her sword beheading the orc where it stood. The Prince of Mirkwood grabbed her arm leading her away from more orcs coming.

She realized it was the middle of the wall seeing as how the main doors were blocked. "Togo han dad, Legolas! Dago hon! Dago hon!" Aragorn shouted at Legolas, who quickly whirled toward the man, seeing him pointing at an orc running through its army. Legolas quickly notched an arrow and fired it in it's shoulder, not slowing it down. Ava winced and ran past the elf, seeing Boromir and Aragorn could be caught in the blast.

A second arrow flew and nailed it in the other shoulder. The orc lunged into the channel under the wall. Ava threw herself at Boromir, shoving him with her body and a strong force field out of harms way just as the way exploded. She went flying through the air, managing to reduce the impact as she landed on the orcs side. Her thoughts faded to the black abyss of her mind, unconscious.

A few orcs ran over to her, having noticed her strange landing. They snarled at each other and all four picked her up carrying her away from the battle. No one else saw them leave with her heading back the way the came.

Boromir sat up quickly wondering what had knocked him down. He quickly stood to fit more orcs on top the wall while the army flooded the new hole. All the while, he was searching for Ava. Aragorn led the elves into the army, killing all in their path. Boromir made his way down the stairs to aid them when a cry was heard, "To the keep! Aragorn! Get you men out of there!"

Aragorn called out to all the elves, making sure they heard to go to the keep. Haldir ordered his elves on top of the wall also. They all ran for the keep, killing all foes that wished to enter the doors. Boromir met up with Aragorn and Legolas, who were gathering tall and sturdy items to hold the gate intact. His worry doubled not seeing Ava within the Keep, hoping she went into the caves. "Where she should have been in the first place." He thought furiously.

Aragorn dropped his end of a bench to scorn a despairing king, catching Legolas off guard with the sudden drop. Boromir bit his lip to hold back a laugh and helped the angered elf carrying it to the door. Legolas nodded in thanks to him before they both ran to a table. Legolas, in a swift move flipped it, the contents flying to the floor. Boromir helped him carry that as Aragorn and Gimli snuck off to defend the front the gate.

Legolas growled at Aragorn's persistence to kill himself with extreme exhaustion and ordered Boromir to follow him as he darted up the starts to the top of the gate looking at the ramp covered in orcs. The man and dwarf worked together keeping the orcs at bay until the doors were repaired.

"Aragorn!" Legolas cried out throwing a long but very strong rope to the man. Boromir got behind Legolas waiting for his order to haul on the rope. Instead, the elf started pulling the men up. Boromir picked up the slack and helped him holding the full weight when the elf let go to pull Gimli and Aragorn over to safety.

After a short while, they were all mounted on horses after Aragorn encouraged the King to ride out and meet them. They charged and burst through the gates and plowed through the orcs on the ramp. They killed orcs from their horses backs both man and beast quickly becoming soaked in black blood. Aragorn looked up at the hill seeing Gandalf on top the hill, his horse rearing.

He was not alone for the entire Rohirrim began gathering behind him. "Éomer!" King Théoden said softly smiling brightly. "TO THE KING!" Éomer bellowed with strong lunges, thrusting his sword in the air. The entire army led by Gandalf, then, charged down the steep hill with their horses. The orcs had their spears ready to kill their beasts when the sun rose blinding all of them. The Rohirrim made it through with no harm, trampling over every orc in their path.

It wasn't long until the orcs fled from them like whipped dogs. The fortress cheered in triumph, raising their swords and spears. Boromir sighed heavily and looked around; racing back to the caves with the need to find the one he loved and so desperately doesn't want to lose.

They women and children looked up at the several people opening the cave barriers, all hoping against hope that their loved one made it. Boromir entered the caves looking around for Ava. The women began filing out of the caves. "Ava?" Boromir cried out, hearing his own voice echo.

He went through out the entire caves, his heart sinking after every passing moment. With a thread of hope that she is with the remaining living soldiers, he returned to the army outside. Haldir walked by but paused sensing the man's emotions. "Are you alright?" Haldir asked concerned for him.

The Steward shook his head. "No, I cant… find Ava. I saw her on the wall, and she's not in the caves. I'm so afraid I'll find her among-"

"Don't say such a thing." Haldir gently cut him off, knowing full well what he was about to say. Boromir sighed and nodded slightly looking to Lothlorien's royal guard. They searched together for her and after several hours of searching, no clues were found to where she was.

~TBC

I am sorry about the long wait once again. I have been working, literally non-stop and have had barely anytime on this. I hope you enjoyed this and those of you wanting the relationship to go further: Have patience. They are getting there, I promise :D