(A/N: Last chapter of tonight, Gimli, Leggy and Aragorn are back, which is always fun because I get to write more about Gimli and Legolas' odd friendship. I can't wait to write more tomorrow :3. Please enjoy and feel free to review ^.^)
Rune watched as the pyre ignited, she was at first frozen, her eyes fixed on Faramir who tilted his head so that he could then looked at Rune, eyes half opened as if he was just walking up, he smiled gently at her. She heard something, the sound of horse's hooves, and she turned in that moment to see Gandalf run towards the flames, knocking Denethor from them. Pippin jumped from Shadowfax and onto the burning pyre.
"Pippin!" She screamed as she watched Pippin push Faramir off the burning pyre. Rune ran forward, catching them both as they tumbled from the bundles of wood. Pippin and Rune began to douse the flames on Faramir's clothing, Denethor screamed with Rage, Rune glanced up. Denethor looked at her, pointing an accusing finger at both Pippin and Rune.
"No! Do not take my son from me!" He shouted, leaping across the pyre, ripping and tugging at Pippin, fire quickly spreading up Denethor's oil-soaked back as he hauls Pippin off Faramir, Rune could see as he began to tug Pippin towards the flames. Rune leaped up, sweeping her leg and taking Denethor's out from under him, and catching Pippin as Denethor reared back into the pyre, Rune shoved Pippin behind her, as Denethor looked at both his children, for a brief moment Rune noticed the sanity returning.
"I love you both." He whispered, Rune could feel the tears fall down her cheeks as the flames engulfed her father. Gandalf turned to Rune and Pippin who were both staring at the fire. The old wizard placed a hand on her shoulder. Suddenly, Denethor lurched off the pyre, now screaming, unguided ball of flame, he ran across the chamber, disappearing out the door.
"So passes Denethor, Son of Ecthelion." Rune leaned forward, and looked down at Faramir, who looked up at her, his eyes still half opened, his mouth opening and closing as he tried to say something, she shook her head, and leaned more further so she was now hugging him.
"My sweet brother, I am so glad you are alive." Then she turned to Pippin, hugging him close to her and kissing his forehead. "And my dear soldier, thank you so much, thank you my dear." She hugged him tighter as he hugged her in return.
Xxx
The group moved down to the sixth level of the city, Gandalf had insisted that Faramir should ride on Shadowfax, despite all his protests. Rune could hear the cluster of orcs and the trolls pounding on the wooden door with huge hammers. The wood splintered, the doors near breaking point. Gandalf and Pippin sat near the stone steps as Rune sat on stone steps both covered in sweat and grim, Rune stood next to Faramir in the same state, bone-wary from fighting, her spirits and heart bruised. Pippin looked towards the wooden gates at which a number of soldiers continued to build a barricade.
"I did not think it would end this way…." Pippin whispered quietly, Rune looked at him sadly as Gandalf merely gave him a questioning glance.
"Death is just another path, one that we all must take." Gandalf told him softly. Rune looked at him curiously, as Gandalf looked down, she touched Faramir's arm with fear, her brother looked at her and placed his hand on hers as Gandalf began to speak again, "The grey rain curtain of this world rolls back and all turns to silver glass and then you see it…" Gandalf seemed to be in a ravine of thought and Pippin started to talk with Gandalf, Faramir however studied Rune curiously.
"Rue, why are you covered in slime?" He asked her, Rune heard the roar of a troll and looked down at her feet, kicking some rubble with her toe.
"I, eh, entered a troll's mouth, and killed it." She muttered embarrassed to which Denethor looked at her in shock, his eyes wide. Then a smile broke across his face as he ruffled her hair lightly.
"That is my baby sister, Boro would be so proud of you." Rune looked at Faramir and smiled at hi.
"You think he will be waiting for us?" She asked him softly, leaning against his arm lightly. He nodded his head at her and kissed her on the top of her head.
"Of course he will be, he would not want you going through all this without seeing you on the other side."
BOOM!
Gandalf and Pippin jumped as Rune grabbed the hilt of her sword and Faramir slid from his own horse and gripped his own blade, the gates shuddered one last time, Rune looked to Gandalf and Pippin who stood, taking hold of their own weapons.
"Prepare yourself!" Gandalf told them as they waited, at that moment the rays on sun began to glitter down through the clouds and the sound of groaning was heard, Rune looked at Faramir who was already in defence mode, she walked down the stone steps towards the soldiers, moving towards the gates, she peeked through a tiny hole, her eyes wide.
"Gandalf! Gandalf they are leaving!" She shouted, Gandalf looked up, his eyes wide.
"They are?" He asked running towards her shocked, he looked throw the small hall and turned to the soldiers.
"Remove the barricades, now!" Gandalf shouted, the soldiers nodded and began to remove the barricades, Rune ran out, along with Pippin, Faramir and Gandalf, her eyes winded as she began to run over the rubble.
Xxx
Rune walked across Pelennor Fields, her brother and friends behind her as she stumbled, frowning at all the dead bodies sadly, most were so young and it broke her heart. Some men stood, looking at them as they walked, Shadowfax's hooves clopped across the hard ground. The Orcs had fled. Rune made her way toward a trio, standing talking her eyes fixed on the green entities close to the trio.
"Aragorn! Gimli! Legolas!" She shouted towards the trio that turned, each grinning at her. Rune ran towards them, leaping over debris and bodies landing in the arms of both Aragorn and Legolas, mushing the two together and laughing. Legolas hugged her, and she took in his sent once again and could feel the tears from her eyes, Aragorn hugged her with one arm, bringing Gimli in with the other and laughed as the dwarf shouted out in shock. She felt at home surrounded by the three of them once again. Gandalf coughed causing the group to break, Rune flushed as she felt Legolas take her hand.
"It is good to see the three of you all good and well." Gandalf spoke and saw the interlocked hands of Legolas and Rune and once again chuckled, then turned to Faramir, who felt out of place within the group. "Faramir, come meet the rest of our companions. Gimli, son of Glóin." Gimli bowed to Faramir happily.
"It is a pleasure to meet the brother of Boromir and Lady Rune." Faramir cocked a brow at his sister, but did not ask.
"This is Aragorn, son of Arathorn." Faramir walked to Aragorn and knelt onto one knee, bowing his head.
"My Lord." Faramir greeted, Aragorn looked down at him awkwardly, and turned to Rune who giggled slightly. Aragorn smiled and nodded his head at Faramir.
"You do not have to bow to me, Faramir, son of Denethor." Faramir stood, and then looked strangely at Legolas who held his sisters hand as though he could not bear to be parted with her. Rune followed her brother's gaze and brought Legolas forward.
"Fara, this is Legolas of the Woodland Realm," Rune introduced the Elf who bowed at Faramir, who bowed back politely, and smiled at the Elf.
"It makes me rather happy to finally meet the person to place the spark in my sister's eyes." He greeted, Rune flushed, not realising that she had a spark in her eye. She felt the irksome feeling coming from behind her and turned to find the green things looking at her, she looked at Aragorn nervously.
"Aragorn, what are those creatures?" She asked him, looking at them closely the looked like green, transparent skeletons. Aragorn turned to Rune.
"You have heard the old stories of those who abandoned Gondor long ago? Thieves and murders whose oath tied them to this world?" Rune nodded and Aragorn gave a wide sweep of his arm. "Well, this is them." Rune looked at him, her eyes wide.
"Ghosts?" She asked, shocked he nodded, then took a proper look at her and sniffed, his nose wrinkling.
"By the way, you smell like-" He began, only to have Rune cut him off.
"Troll breath? Yes, I know, I climbed into a troll's mouth to kill it. Can people stop reminding me?" She folded her arms and Aragorn chuckled.
"You are completely insane." He shook his head, as though he couldn't quite believe her. Rune rolled her eyes.
"Says the man who raised an army of the dead." Aragorn laughed as he walked towards the ghosts. Rune watched with shock and curiosity. Gimli and Legolas joined her, Gimli shaking his head and Legolas looked at the ghosts' worriedly.
"Release us." One hissed, its voice sending shivers down Runes spine.
"Bad idea. Very handy in a tight spot, these lads – despite the face, they are dead!" Gimli said quietly to Rune who looked at the dwarf happily.
"I have missed you master dwarf." Rune whispered back, Gimli looked up at her and smiled.
"You gave us your word." The ghost man hissed, and Rune stepped back slightly, Aragorn nodded and looked at the Ghost.
"I hold your oath fulfilled. Go. Be at peace." Aragorn nodded, Rune watched as the creatures began to disappear, and she shook her head. Blinking rapidly. Legolas looked at her worriedly.
"What is it?" He asked her, Rune looked at him as the final deathly gasped filled the air.
"Does that no creep you out?" She asked him, and Legolas chuckled. He shook his head calmly.
"I find it rather peaceful, souls moving on." Rune shook her head and shuddered as Legolas laughed at her. At that moment Aragorn turned, to which Gandalf bowed his head in homage. Rune jolted up right and realised who Aragorn was to her, bowing quickly.
"Rune, what are you doing?" Aragorn asked her, and Rune blushed as she peeked up.
"You are my king now, right?" He looked at her, shocked and held out his large hand, she looked at it and took it, helping her up and shook his head.
"You certainly do not bow to anybody." Aragorn told her, she looked at him in surprise as he smiled at her.
Xxx
"Pippin? Pippin, what are you doing?" Pippin turned to Rune, he looked like a child playing dress up in his Gondorian armour, his eyes full of sadness. They suddenly fixed on something. He began to run, Rune running after him through the ruin of the battle towards a small figure slumped on the ground.
"Merry?" Pippin asked, Rune gasped as she sped towards them, seeing Merry stare unseeingly at Pippin, horror and shock erasing all other memories from Merry's mind. Tears fell down Pippin's face as he looked down at his friend. Rune kneeled next to them, a little away so that Merry wouldn't see her but Pippin would know she was there. "Merry, it is me, it is Pippin." Pippin whispered softly to Merry.
"I knew you would find me," Merry said groggy. "Are you going to leave me?" The small hobbit asked disorientated. Pippin shook his head, smiling slightly.
"No Merry, I am going to look after you." He then turned to Rune and beaconed her over. She nodded and got up, walking towards the hobbit. "Will you help me take him to the group?" He asked. Rune nodded, and picked up Merry gently, he slumped his head against her shoulder and smiled slightly.
"It is really nice to see you again, Miss Rune." Rune smiled down at him, along with Pippin who smiled up.
"It is nice to see you too, Merry." She said softly, carrying him towards the group of men who seemed huddled together, talking.