Hee everybody!
I realise it's been far too long since I've posted, and I'm terribly sorry for that!
To all my followers, you have my utmost gratitude for not abandoning me and my story! I probably would have given up on this story had it not been for my guilt towards all of you, for keeping the rest of the story from you.
I cannot, however, promise that I'll be able to post more regularly. The upcoming year will be my first year at university (I'm taking a year of English culture and language) and aside from that I'll most likely be working a lot, and spending quite a lot of time training for competition of dancing, along with my new dance partner. I'm sorry! But, if you want me to continue writing, post as many reminders as possible, and you'll guilt trip me into writing more, that's a promise!
For now, enjoy!
Love,
BitterStrength
It was well after midnight when Legolas went to search for Aragorn, for he suspected the man would be done with sending the message at that time.
The second Legolas had entered the throne room he had felt the agony and despair that filled the room. He then saw his friend sitting on the floor, looking lost, and rushed to his side.
"Aragorn?" he tentatively asked.
The man simply kept on sitting there, his head in his hands.
"Aragorn, you must rest," Legolas said, before gently pulling the hands from the face of his friend.
The look of total and utter despair that he then saw upon his friends face told him this was more serious than he had previously suspected. It was an expression that was both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time, as if he had seen it before, but as if in a dream.
"What is it? What did he show you?"
The man cracked, heaving sobs shaking his body so hard that the elf had to hold him as tightly as he dared; otherwise he would have fallen face-first on the hard tiles of the throne room floor.
"Tell me, my friend, what did you see?"
"She's gone," said the raspy and broken voice of Aragorn who was still sobbing heavily.
"Who is gone? And gone how?"
"The Evenstar broke. Arwen is dead," Aragorn sobbed.
"No, my friend, she is not. The Evenstar is not broken," Legolas calmly told his friend, fearing for the sanity of his friends mind.
"I saw it break. It slipped through my fingers and broke. Look, just over there." He pointed to a place on the floor a little bit removed from the palentir.
"How can it be broken if I have it right here?" Legolas said, his hand ducking into his tunic to fish out the necklace which he then gently pressed into Aragorn's shaking hand.
"What? How?" the man asked, no longer sobbing.
"Don't you remember? You gave it to me for safekeeping when we were on the ship. You said that if any of us would survive that battle, it would be me and you told me that if you had died, I should return the Evenstar to Arwen," Legolas said softly.
As Legolas explained that to him, Aragorn suddenly remembered. Just before they had arrived at the sight of battle, he had asked Legolas to give the Evenstar back to Arwen if he should come to die and to tell her he loved her with all his heart.
As the memories returned to him, he slowly calmed down to his regular state of composure.
"She's alive?" he asked tentatively.
"I'm sure she is, for we would have heard of it otherwise."
"But then how could the palentir show me that she was dead?"
"Palentirs cannot lie, so perhaps the palentir just showed a truth that was not a reality."
"Speak clearly, please, Legolas," Aragorn sighed, for he had not the patience for riddles.
"You fear that she will die. That is a truth. The palentir could have shown you how you feel, instead of showing you what has happened in the present or will happen in the future. Your emotions are also a truth, just not always a reality."
"Lucy?" Susan whispered as she laid down next to her little sister.
"Hm?" answered the sleepy voice.
"You know we love you, don't you?"
"Yes, of course I do. And I love all of you as well," Lucy murmured, grasping Susan's hand.
"If we lose this war, you have to go back home."
"We all must."
"No, Lu, this time it'll be just you. You can't save us this time. If we lose, the orcs will overtake the entirety of Middle Earth. You won't be able to reach us without dying yourself. You'll have to leave us behind. Promise me you'll leave the city and find Aslan and get him to take you home."
"But what about mom and dad? What will I tell them?"
"Aslan will think of something."
"Still, I can't just leave you."
"Lu, we won't be here anymore. Don't worry, though, you'll see us again someday, in Aslan's country. Just promise me that you'll leave for us, that you'll live for us."
"Okay. I promise."
Susan softly squeezed her hand. "Thank you."
"Are you scared?"
"Of dying?"
"Yeah?"
"Not exactly. I'm not looking forward to the pain of dying in battle, but I know that we'll find each other again in Aslan's country. And we'll always be with each other, in our hearts, no matter where we go. I regret not saying goodbye to many of the people at home and leaving you alone. But it'll be alright and if dying means saving a lot of others than it's more than worth it. If it means saving you, saving our family, than what else could I chose than to die?"
"Yeah, I suppose you're right," Lucy murmured.
After that they were both quiet for a while.
"Su? Are you still awake?"
"Yeah."
"Do you have any regrets? I mean, is there anything you still want? Is there anything for you to fight for, or have you given up on the chance that the war may be won?"
"Oh, Lu, I don't know. I suppose that our chances don't exactly bring up any confidence in any of the men who will go off to fight tomorrow. There are many things left to fight for still, but somehow I don't think I'll be there to see them come true. I will fight as hard as I can to come back to you, and I will not give up until I've given everything I have in me to give, but I don't want you to think that if I die, I regret having gone to battle, or that I didn't know what to be prepared for. As for regrets, well, I suppose there are many things I still wanted to do, but I trust Aslan's plan for us. If those things were not meant for me, then I suppose it does me no good to want them. He knows what he's doing, even if we don't."
"Hmm. Okay."
"I'm sorry, Lu. I'm sorry if we won't be there anymore."
"That's okay, you've taught me enough the last time we grew up. I'll miss you, of course, but I'll always remember the times we've had and I will do us all proud," Lucy said, the tears now freely falling from her eyes as she turned her head to watch her sister for what may very well be one of the last times.
"You've already made us proud, Lucy. You're going to be great. Don't ever let anybody tell you otherwise. You're our hope, our hope that there is still such a thing as mercy and kindness and innocence. You have always been the truest believer of all of us and you are our primary reason to fight. We have to protect you, to protect the hope of all those we've met and never will meet," Susan spoke as she drew her sister into her arms, like she had done so many times in their childhood when one of them couldn't sleep. And just like old times, sleep soon came to them, though it was not a restless sleep, but one filled with many fears and terrors.
Morning came too early for everyone. The dawn was cold and brought with it a sense of unforgiving dread that descended upon the White City like a cloud of mist.
"Another day, another battle," Eragon sighed as he donned his armour.
A time will come when battle is no longer such a frequent happening, Eragon. We will live to see those times, which we will then spend learning and hopefully teaching and rebuilding the race of Dragons," Saphira soothed him.
"We have a long way to go still, lots of battles we have yet to survive. But, aye, it is something to look for, to fight for and to hope for."
Yes, it is. Now, come, let us fight to live another day.
Eragon finished preparing when he put Brisingr on his hip.
By then Arya had joined them.
"Atra esterní ono thelduin, Arya Dröttningu," Eragon greeted her, twisting his hand over his sternum in respect.
"Atra mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr, Eragon Shur'tugal un vinr Älfakyn" she replied.
"Un atra du evarínya ono varda. Atra ono waíse sköliro frá rauthr un sé onr sverd un onr orya sitja hvass."
"Elrun ono. Atra ono waíse ramr un edoc'sil vel thornessa dag un orya sem tauthr."
Enough with the well-wishing already and hop on. We need to leave for the journey to this Black Gate where the fight will happen," Saphira interrupted, her voice chagrined.
Both Arya and Eragon both laughed before jumping on Saphira's back, who then swiftly rose to the sky and made her way to the lower levels of the city.
"You should wear the colours of your city, Aragorn," Gandalf told the Ranger when he came upon him that morning.
"It is not my city yet," Aragorn replied.
"Do not fool yourself, Aragorn. All the men coming to fight today are coming because of you. This city is as much yours as it ever will be. These people will follow you to whatever end. The least you can do is showing them that you are one of them," Gandalf scolded him gently.
"And wearing the emblem of the White City will do that?"
All the Istar had to do was look the Chieftain of the Dûnedain in the eye for the man to give up resisting what he knew he should embrace.
"Oh alright," Aragorn muttered before taking his leave of Gandalf to change into the colours of the White City.
"Of all the Men I've come across in my many years, I've yet to meet one as stubborn as Estel," Legolas mused from where he stood a little ways away.
"Perhaps it's the result of living amongst the Elves?" Gandalf replied with a chuckle in his voice.
"Nah, if any race would do that to him, it would be the dwarves. But I think it's just who he is," Legolas laughed.
"Whatever the reason, I'm glad he's finally seeing reason and slowly accepting that he can do so much more than he thinks himself capable of."
"Aye, he will make a marvellous King," Legolas answered.
"If time be kind, perhaps we shall live to see such a day where the Crown sits rightfully upon his head. For now, we should go down to the gates and start our journey to the Black Gates, where all will be decided," Gandalf spoke, before they left together to do as the wizard had spoken.
The sight at the gates of Minas Tirith was one no man would ever forget. Hundreds of men had gathered themselves on the Field of Pelennor, just outside of the gates, along with all the horses who had survived the previous battle and could also be spared from the city. However, the most eerie thing would be the silence surrounding all those who had gathered at the gates.
It was there that the second son of the Steward, Faramir, stood beside his future King and the three eldest Pevensies desperately clung to their youngest sibling, whom they would likely not see again. The other companions also stood there, side by side. They, however, had none to say goodbye to, for all those whom they knew were to accompany them on the march to the Black Gates of Mordor.
"Faramir, I once made a promise to your brother as he lay dying before my eyes and I could not help him. I promised him I would not let the White City fall, nor its men fail. In my absence, would you take of the City for me?" Aragorn spoke softly to the injured Faramir.
"I would," the young captain and newly appointed Steward replied. "May the Gods protect you and bring you back to rule over the people who so fiercely need your guidance."
"Thank you, Faramir," Aragorn said quietly before mounting the horse that was waiting for him. "Until we meet again."
He then looked to the Narnian Kings and Queens.
"Look out for their little sister, please. If the battle should go ill, do not let her try to follow us into death," he asked the Steward.
"Of course," Faramir replied as he too looked to the siblings, who now slowly parted before the eldest three mounted their steeds and with one last look turned from their sister and led their horses out of the gates. Lucy was left standing there, tears shining in her eyes, but not quite spilling yet.
She suddenly turned to Aragorn. "In case Aslan is too busy to watch over us, would you look after my brothers and sister?" she asked in a quiet tone.
"It would be my honour."
Lucy nodded and then turned and made her way up to the top of the city to watch over her brothers and sister for as long as she could.
With one last look at Faramir, Aragorn nodded his head and moved his horse to make its way out of the city, followed closely by Legolas and Gimli, Gandalf and Pippin, Éomer and Merry, Arya, Eragon and, flying above their heads, Saphira.
The companions then slowly made their way past the men of Rohan and Gondor to lead them into the long march that could very well lead them to their end, but hopefully it would not only be their end, but also that of their enemies.
Atra esterní ono thelduin, Arya Dröttningu – May good fortune rule over you, Arya Princess
Atra mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr, Eragon Shur'tugal un vinr Älfakyn – May peace live in your heart, Eragon Dragon Rider and Elf Friend
Un atra du evarínya ono varda. Atra ono waíse sköliro frá rauthr un sé onr sverd un onr orya sitja hvass. – And may the stars watch over you. May you be shielded from misfortune and may your sword and arrows be sharp.
Elrun ono. Atra ono waíse ramr un edoc'sil vel thornessa dag un orya sem tauthr. – Thank you. May you be strong and unconquerable upon this day and those that follow.