The Black Lady of Mordor Chapter 21:
He hadn't expected the outcome of Osgiliath nor had he expected that his father would be fine with it. Feramir had not expected many things to happen, after the retreat from Osgiliath he knew his father would be angered at him. Denethor was dealing with the death of Boromir, so when Feramir rode into Minas Tirith and up to the citadel he did not expect to be warmly received or for that reception to include his dead brother.
"Feramir!" Boromir greeting him with a smile, Feramir stood dumbfound for a moment before he realized that his brother actually stood before him. A smile spread across the gondorians face and he returned the greeting giving Boromir a hug he said.
"Boromir! You cheat death! Your horn was found cloven in two we all thought you dead!" Boromir laughed at this and said.
"I was very well close to it! I will tell you all of what happened but now is not the time, an army is marching on the city we need to prepare for battle." With that the two brothers went to the hall of kings to where Denethor was discussing strategy with Gandalf and the other captains of Gondor.
~~O~~
The attack on the camp ended the next morning with the last of the orcs fleeing and being shot down by archers. The camp had suffered great damaged and many of the tents were burned down over night. People were now gathering into groups at the tents that had not burned down. The smell of burnt cloth and flesh hung in the air and the sun was dimmed by the haze of smoke. Orcs and men lay dead on the ground and there was no clear path to be taken that did not involve stepping over a corpse. Rohan had suffered many losses and many of the men had lost hope to win an even greater battle against Mordor's full force.
Legolas had been wandering through the groups of people with Aragorn and Gimli in search of Merry and Leanien. Both had yet to be seen by the fellowship and Legolas feared that Leanien was hurt during the battle.
"Lord Aragorn." Eowyn called out as they were passing by. Aragorn turned and saw that with Eowyn was Merry.
"It is good to see you both safe." He said walking over to them followed by Legolas and Gimli. Merry nodded bleakly and said.
"It's good you three are well too."
"You haven't seen Leanien or Tellis have you?" Aragorn asked, he knew that the elven guard would not be far from Leanien wherever she was, but the attack had caused such disorganization that everyone was having trouble finding people.
"Merry?" Legolas asked looking into the hobbits eyes. Merry who was fighting back tears said.
"She's gone. She was in Eowyn's tent when they attacked and we were all outside fighting. It wasn't until we realized the tent was on fire that we went inside to get Leanien out of there. She wasn't there though, the back of the tent had been cut open and she was gone."
The three looked at Merry with horror as they came to understand what he was saying.
"Where is Tellis?" Aragorn asked hoping the elf was not dead, he was annoying but did not deserve to die.
"When he realized that Leanien had been taken he rushed out the back of the tent after her, I don't know where he went or if he has found her. We had to deal with more orcs as they started coming into the tent. They're gone." Merry said with finality, Legolas spoke then with a fire in his eyes.
"We have to go after them." Though Aragorn shook his head at this.
"We cant."
"Aragorn she is our companion, just as we did not abandon Merry and Pippin we won't abandon her."
"What do you propose we do Legolas? Leave the armies go after her and forget about the siege on Minas Tirith? We can't do that and you know it. We will look for her after the battle, but we cannot abandon out obligations to Rohan and Gondor. We must hope that Tellis can get to her." Legolas was ready to explode at Aragorn for his words when he looked his friend in the eyes he realized that those words hurt the ranger as much as they did Legolas. Legolas gave a frustrated sigh and said.
"I only hope that she can be saved after the battle."
~~O~~
After the meeting on how to hand the battle the two brothers had taken time to catch up over a pint.
"So how did your horn come to be cloven in two?" Feramir asked.
"I took three arrows to the chest while protecting Merry and Pippen. I thought for sure I was done for, though Leanien wouldn't stand for any of us dying. She pulled the arrows out and started treating the wounds even after I had given up." Feramir laughed at this and said.
"She sounds about as stubborn as you." Boromir smiled at this though he knew it was true. "So that is her jewel you are wearing then?" Feramir said pointing at Leanien's necklace which hung around Boromir's neck.
"Ah yes it is."
"Seems she is just as smitten with you are you are with her. Who would have thought? My big brother falling in love with an elf. If I recall you didn't even want to go to Rivendell."
"Ah yes well it is perhaps a good thing I did though. I have never met a woman with more fire and courage than her. You will see, when the soldiers from Rohan arrive she will be with them. I am going to ask her to marry me." Feramir smiled and raising his pint he said.
"I am happy for you brother." Boromir hit his beer mug against Feramir's and they both drank deeply.
It wasn't long until the brothers had to give up their drinks and head to the wall to prepare for the coming army. While they had managed to keep good spirits in light of the upcoming battle they weren't overly eager for it to start fighting.
Boromir stood at a watch tower looking over at the coming army still as of yet out of range for the long bows and trebuchets. The force was fearsome and several trolls pushed towers while other trolls wore armor and carried giant cleaving swords or mallets. Feramir walked up to his brother and said looking out over this on coming army.
"What do you suppose our chances are?"
"We both have things yet to live for, and today we won't die."
"You have your woman to look forward to." Boromir looked over at Feramir and said putting his hand on his little brother's shoulder.
"You have a wedding to look forward to. You are my best man; you can't go and die on me. Then what would we do?" Feramir chuckled at his brother and wished he had that bravery to look at you probable death and scoff at it. To be able to joke when an army was ready to break down the gates to your home and kill everyone.
"You are right, today we fight for each other and for the light that still lingers in the shadow."
*here is chapter 21 not to exciting I know, please review with opinions and criticism, I am hoping to be able to get through these next few chapters quickly, I just got a plethora of new music to listen to while I write so that is good. You all should know that the story is starting to reach its end. I have several more chapters planned but I don't expect to make it to 40 chapters with this story. Thank you everyone who has stuck to the story thus far.*