Chapter Twenty Six

"Gandalf!" I call to the wizard down the corridor, he turns, it is still strange to see him as a commander. While Pippen's clothes are smeared with ash, oil, the dirt and fighting of the streets and I fare no better with orc blood and that of my own, sweat and dirt, Gandalf's robes have remained white.
"Pippen has told me all that has happened and I saw the Rohirrim crest the hill, defending us. But tell me, how is my brother? I will speak of Melusida shortly, but I must first hear about Faramir."
Gandalf frowns almost severely at me, "The scratch on your cheek and the blood at your neck are from no wounds of battle."
"A battle of wills and souls, not swords. Gandalf tell me, how does Faramir?"
The man sighed, "He is strong certainly, those arrows should have killed him with their poison, yet he fights on. Your father did him no service in taking him from the Houses of Healing and near killing him; I have done all I could in aiding him, but the shadow still lingers upon him."

My stomach drops and I feel damp sweat break out on my forehead, if Melusida saved me from being shot by arrows does that mean a life must be repaid for it? Do I get mine and forfeit my brother's?
"Will he live?" I ask. Gandalf looks down to his feet and frowns even further, before looking up and speaking.
"We must take some comfort that he has lived thus far; any ordinary man would have lost his life by now. There is yet some hope in that, but I cannot say with all due confidence that he will live."
I turn away from them both then; I have always had my brother, in sorrow and joy we have been at one another's side. As I turn back I see Pippen glance at Gandalf, a furtive, worried expression on his face. I know that look, Pippen has been told to hold his tongue, but his unfailing honesty means he is not good enough at it.

"What is it? What else are you hiding?" I instantly ask Gandalf.
"You said you would speak of Melusida. I know you were there with her throughout, what little news I received from Pippen only told me of the beginnings, not the end."
"You will tell me all." I thunder, fear tightly coiling around my throat and my hand linger at the bruises Melusida made.
"Boromir…"
"Tell me!" I feel like a child, throwing a tantrum when afraid, but there is something else hidden in their expressions and it frightens me.
"After the incident with your brother and taking him back to the Houses, then coming here to see to Melusida, your father is missing. I knocked him out, while Pippen saved Faramir from the pyre, but when the guards returned for him he was nowhere to be found." Gandalf says, his voice is quite calm, but knowing my father is somewhere in this great city, not recognising friend from foe, makes my throat constrict.
"We must find him." I say.
"Yes, but first, tell me quickly what has occurred."

I speak of everything I know, I feel ashamed when I speak of Sewya and what Melusida went through, Gandalf shakes his head and frowns vehemently.
"Such things are nonsense, it is rare to have a spirit pervade another soul and potions, charms and prayers will not work against it, even if the spirit is weak. You saw this with Théoden."
"You were nowhere to be found, I did not know what else to do." I mutter.
Gandalf's hand clasps my shoulder, "And you did what anyone else would have done in such a scenario, I am sorry Pippen and I were not there. But I am sure you did not want Faramir to die any more than Melusida."
"Of course not, I am in your debt."
Gandalf waves his hand and encourages me to speak further. I tell him of how Sauron manipulated her, used her voice to make me think it was her and that He was gone. How Melusida attempted to strangle me, but I would not raise my sword to her, in hope some goodness remained. Then, how she had turned to the window and screamed, an agonising, heart-breaking scream, before…

I stop and Gandalf notes the pause, he studies me intently.
"Then what happened?"
"Boromir said he saw Melusine, the goddess of Melusida's family." Pippen says quickly, before I can answer.
Gandalf turns his gaze back towards me, "You saw her?"
"Yes." I cannot think of what else to say.
"And what did she say?" Gandalf asks, that surprise me, I thought he would tell me that was nonsense too and my mind was playing tricks on me.
"She said, her curse was released and she would protect me and Melusida, Melusine caused her to fall asleep. I believe she will remain so, till the battle is over."
"Hmm, interesting. Do you know what she meant by 'Her curse was released'?"
I shake my head, Gandalf nods slowly.
"What do you think She meant, Gandalf?" Pippen asks.
"Who can say…" Gandalf's eyebrows draw together and he frowns even further, then he suddenly snaps into action, "Boromir, go back to your men. They need a sign of hope and you shall be it, ride out to join the Rohirrim. Pippen, guard Melusida…"

Both Pippen and I look bemused as Gandalf gets up, his cloak swirling around him and marches back down the corridor.
"And where are you going?" Pippen calls.
"To the library, Master Took."
I wonder if I should point out that now is not the best time for reading, but Gandalf has soon turned the corner and vanished from sight. I look down at Pippen, who looks up and shrugs.
"We have our orders." he says.
We all make off in different directions, though as I walk I keep my eyes peeled for my father or any sign of him. But as I join my men, I know it will be impossible to search for him amongst all this confusion and bloodshed.

As promised, I'm speeding up a little bit. Hope that's ok for everyone and please do keep reading and reviewing. But I'm writing and have written plenty of other stories, so fear not, lots more to come! Xxx