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Chapter 25

Aragorn POV

I awoke at dawn and dressed in the fine livery that Boromir had delivered to my chambers last night. The thick leather of the over-armour and velvet under-tunic felt strange to me after so many years wearing rangers garb. I pulled the front strands of my hair back into an elvish braid and secured my sword around my waist, my cloak around my shoulders. I caught sight of myself in a mirror just before I left my rooms and stared, I looked so different, less of a wild man and more the King of Gondor. With that thought in mind, I strode out of my rooms and down towards the throne room.

I opened the door and found the other members of the fellowship waiting for me, along with Eómer and three Gondorian soldiers that I did not know. "My King, these are Trewynn, Trevaun and Daffyn." I nodded to them and they bowed deeply. "My king, we all fought beside Ariana yesterday and would like to pledge our lives and the support of our men to you and your plan. The men have heard about what happened here in the courtyard and wish to do everything they can for the woman who risked her life to keep ours safe. She spoke highly of you and if you are half the man she and Boromir have said you are, we will follow you without question."

I stared at them before bowing slightly to them, "You honour me with your allegiance, I can only hope that I live up to the tales." They nodded, bowed again and left to ready their men. Eómer turned towards me, "My men and I will follow you. For saving our people, our home land, our new queen and for Ariana. You have Rohan's allegiance." I smiled at his gruff speech and nodded, absently thinking that Eówyn would make a fine queen. Boromir chuckled and turned to me. "We've followed you this far, may as well finish the quest off right." I shook my head and we headed out to the courtyard and mounted up, ready to ride for the Black Gate. As we marched out of the city I cast one last thought back to Ariana, hoping that she would hear it. Stay strong my love. Wait for me, I will save you.

The sound of the, no, my army marching towards the Black Gate soothed me and I turned to find Pippin sat in front of Gandalf and Merry behind Eómer. We rounded the steep outcrops that bordered the land of Mordor and came to rest staring straight at the Gates and beyond that Sauron's tower and Mount Doom. I could see orcs moving along the battlements atop the gates, but no one came to greet us. I turned to those closest to me and urged my horse forward, Boromir, Eómer, Gandalf, Legolas and a soldier baring the flag of Gondor followed me. We halted just back from the base of the Gate.

I halted my horse and yelled out. "Let the Lord of the Black Land come forth. Let justice be done upon him." We waited in silence, our horse nervous as the Gates opened and a figure on a horse rode out to greet us. As he passed the shadow of the Gate, we saw the figures head was covered with a helm that showed no eyes and that his mouth was all that we could see of his face. The skin around the mouth cracked open as the Mouth of Sauron spoke, showing sharp pointed teeth, "My master, Sauron the Great, bids thee welcome. Is there any in this rout with authority to treat with me?" It stared around sightless, waiting for an answer. "We do not come to treat with Sauron, faithless and accursed. Tell your master this: the armies of Mordor must disband. He is to depart these lands, never to return." Gandalf stated calmly and I watched as its head turned towards him, baring its teeth and I frowned. "Ah, old Greybeard. I have a token I was bidden to show thee."

The Mouth of Sauron dug around in its cloak and pulled out an all too familiar white vest and threw it at Gandalf. Gandalf caught it and looked at it in shock, Pippin whispering from his seat in front of Gandalf. "Frodo." Gandalf shook himself, "Silence." I turned my head towards Eómer and Merry, as Merry cried out. "No." Gandalf turned to Merry. "Silence." The Mouth of Sauron chuckled wetly. "The Halfling was dear to thee, I see. Know that he suffered greatly at the hands of his host. Who would've thought one so small could endure so much pain? And he did, Gandalf, he did." Gandalf's eyes grew sad and bright with tears. I frowned and rode towards the Mouth of Sauron, my anger growing.

The Mouth of Sauron turned his head to me and began to mock me, "And who is this? Isildur's heir? It takes more to make a King that a broken Elvish blade-" I cut him off as I drew my blade and beheaded him, watching as in the background, Sauron's eye turned towards us. "I guess that concludes negotiations." I heard Gimli mutter behind Legolas, but I was too focused on Gandalf. "I do not believe it. I will not." I turned to watch the scene behind me as Mordor's army began to march out of the Gate. "Pull back." Boromir yelled and we rode back to the main body of my army.

I watched as they began to look nervous as the horde of Orcs and Uruks walked out to greet us, surrounding us on three sides. I turned to address the men, riding in front of them. "Hold your ground, hold your ground! Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers. I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down! But it is not this day. This day we fight. By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!" I turned my horse back to face the approaching army and dismounted.

I stood in front of my men, my brothers and prayed that we would walk away from this. "Never thought I'd die fighting side by side with an Elf." Gimli murmured from behind me and Legolas replied to him. "What about side by side with a friend?" Gimli nodded and smiled, "Aye, I could do that." I smiled and raised my sword, just as the eye of Sauron focused on me. Aragorn. Elessar. Sauron's voice whispered to me and I took a step forward, lowering my blade. I then felt a surge of familiar warmth rush through me, Ariana was with me. I turned back to face Gandalf, knowing he would see the tears in my eyes. "For Frodo." For Ariana. I thought as I turned back around.

I raised my sword again and began to run towards the remainder of the army of Mordor. I soon heard Merry and Pippin yell out from behind me and as if that was all it took to break the hold over my men, they all began to run forward overtaking Merry and Pippin. I cut through the horde of Orcs, Goblins and Uruks brutally; their master had taken so much from my people and from me. I would see him ended. I looked up to the sky as I heard the shrill shriek of the Nazgul, but forgot about them as I heard Pippin cry out, "Eagles. The Eagles are coming."

I turned back to the orcs surrounding me, but in my lust for their blood, I missed the troll creeping up behind me and I soon found myself flying through the air. I landed harshly on the floor and cried out as its foot crushed down on my chest. I saw Legolas and Boromir rushing to aid me, but I knew they would not reach me in time. It was then that the eye of Sauron let out a shriek and the ground began to rumble. The troll stood back from me, before turning and running away as did the orcs surrounding us. I sat up enough to watch as finally Barad-Dur crashed to the ground. I could hear in the cries of victory, Merry's voice. "Frodo. Frodo." I struggled to my feet and watched as Mount Doom spewed fiery ash and a deep chasm opened up in the earth and swallowed the remainder of the fleeing army.

The men around me were cheering, Gimli clapped a hand on the shoulders of the Hobbits as Legolas tried to calm Boromir, who was clearly glad this was over. I turned to look for Gandalf and found him vaulting onto the back of an eagle and flying toward the erupting volcano. "Frodo and Sam will need treatment. Come lets us head back to Minas Tirith." I spoke loudly and that seemed to move the fellowship into action. Eómer approached with the horses and we mounted up, with Pippin behind Boromir as Gandalf had flown off.

We moved back to the citadel at a sharp pace, eager to learn news of the hobbits that had braved Mordor and done what had been deemed impossible. As the Fellowship dismounted in the courtyard, Faramir met us and directed us to two separate chambers away from the healing house. There in the rooms lay the two brave hobbits that had risked everything for Middle Earth. "How are they?" I asked Gandalf as he stood to the side and let the healers work on Frodo. "They are malnourished, dehydrated, exhausted, battered, bruised and Frodo is missing part of his finger, but they are blessedly alive. Due to the nature of the quest it is likely that Sam will wake before Frodo, but not for a few more days yet. Do you not have someone else you need to see?" Gandalf asked me, a smile on his face.

I stared at him, before turning and walking quickly out of the room and towards the healing houses. I had no sooner opened the door and a healer was trying to tend to my face, "Please, Ariana. How is she?" I asked between the healers many potions and their examinations of my few injuries. "We do not know. Not minutes after you had ridden away, two men showed up at the door to the healing houses and demanded entrance to Ariana's rooms. They wore clothing similar to elves, but they were not elves. They have not been out since, my lord." I turned at the sound of Eówyn's voice; her description of the men sounded like they were warlocks and studied her.

"I am well my lord; focus on the woman who is constantly saving those around her." I nodded and allowed the healers to tend to my wounds, before asking them to inform me when our visitors surfaced from Ariana's room. They nodded and I left the healing houses, intent on finding the rest of the fellowship and seeing how they fared. No sooner had I walked out and down a corridor did I walk past Boromir and Eómer, who were locked in what appeared to be a passionate embrace. I smiled glad that both were safe, I turned to leave without disturbing them but Gimli's voice cut across the pathway. "Oi. There are impressionable eyes around here, take that somewhere else."

I chuckled, as Eómer pulled back from Boromir and tried to move away from him. Boromir simply tightened his hold on the smaller man and smiled, wolfishly. "What an excellent idea friend Gimli. Perhaps I should take him to your rooms, seeing as they are closest?" I watched as Legolas chuckled at Gimli's expression, while Merry and Pippin openly laughed. "You'll do not such thing Gondorian or you'll face my Axe." Gimli growled across the way, I moved out into the light. "Peace my friends. No one will be using your rooms but you Gimli. However the idea is a good one Boromir, I do not wish to shock some of our more elderly residents so soon after the city has become free." He snorted, but dragged Eómer away from us, presumably towards his rooms. I smiled at my friends and made my way towards my own rooms. I had a feeling that I would need all the rest possible to make it through the next few days.