Chapter Twenty-Six.

Corlia groggily groaned as she came back around, the sight of a wearily smiling Gandalf greeting her. The beast lowly whined as she moved and transformed, the woman sitting herself up as she rubbed her head.
"I'm glad you're awake… I'm afraid you cannot rest for long though" Gandalf spoke making the blind woman weakly sigh.
"Faramir plans to ride out and face them head on" Gandalf informed her. Corlia's heart dropped at the news, her mouth hanging open.
"Is he insane? There's no getting Osgiliath back now" Corlia voiced, shaking her head to remove any drowsiness from her mind. She prayed that she had heard him wrong but Gandalf hummed at her words, confirming she had heard him correctly.
"He does what he thinks will please his father" Gandalf said to explain Faramir's actions. Corlia heavily sighed, grasping her thoughts as she imaged the Man of Gondor.
"He has seen Frodo and Sam" Corlia mentioned, hope filling her heart as she remember their previous conversations.
"Yes… I have spoken with Faramir already" Gandalf told her.
"That gives us some hope… right?" Corlia half asked, half stated but Gandalf's silence made her heart drop.
"Only if we can survive what is to come. It is time for me to leave, I'm going to see if I can change Faramir's mind. Clean yourself up Corlia, I need you soon" Gandalf said and with a slam of a door Corlia knew he had departed. Corlia stood, using her hands to balance and guide herself around the unfamiliar room. She hoped Gandalf was successful in his task, she had a feeling Faramir still had a part to play in this and dying wasn't quite it. As she cleaned herself up and mentally prepared herself for the next battle she couldn't help but think of Legolas and the others. How did they fair? Would Rohan agree to come and aid Gondor? Did the man she rescued survive?

Corlia grimaced at the flowers and petals that flooded the road to the main gate, the weeping women and children sending her head spinning. Some gazed at her in hope while others were unsure of her presence, the unusual sight putting them on edge. Corlia knew that news of her coming spread like wildfire around Minas Tirith, she wondered if the rumours about her were good or bad. She found Gandalf with ease, the White Wizard loudly commanding the remaining Men of Gondor in preparation for battle.
"He's as stubborn as Boromir!" Gandalf angrily exclaimed as he noticed the overgrown beast approaching him. Corlia could tell he was extremely stressed, his short tempted pushed to the limit.
"I couldn't stop him and Denethor is lost in his own madness" Gandalf angrily told her, flailing his arms around to express his words even further. Corlia's head snatched to the open gates that separated the city from the rest of the world. It was this moment where Gandalf's anger left, a look of sorrow falling on his expression as he viewed the beast. He had already asked a lot of her, he had asked a lot from many in this world. Gandalf could not look into the future like many assumed but his wisdom gave him enough knowledge to know what had to be done, to give a chance to Middle Earth's survival.
"Corlia I wish I did not have to ask this of you…" Gandalf slowly said, his voice going low and she looked back at him, noticing the spark in his eye. She knew what he silently asked of her – make sure Faramir survived. Corlia's eyes fell back to the gates as she tried to look out far into the distance; her eyesight was strong but even she could not define what was truly happening out there. Her eyes landed on Gandalf once more, a worn expression on her face.
"Go… we do not have long. The will of Men will be tested soon… stay safe Corlia, your role does not end today" Gandalf said, his voice surprising her considering he was angry a matter of minutes ago. The large overgrown beast tilted her head at the wizard as she spun on her hind, springing into a fast paced gallop as she left the city. She knew that this was madness, even the beast within knew it but her gut and faith in Gandalf told her that she must do this.

Corlia's fur stood on end as her stepping faltered… it was ahead of her… the Witch King. She didn't need sharp eyes to see him rise into the air upon his large beast, its wings snatching the air as it held itself proudly in the dim sky. The remaining smoke in Osgiliath circled around it, the sight one to behold if it did not hold so much evil. Corlia almost fell as she felt its wraith grip her heart, the loud shrilling cry of the beast going straight to her head.
"Greetings skin-changer" a dark, vicious voice sneered in her head,
"Do you enjoy the cries of your friends riding to their death?" it continued on in a mocking tone, the beast within growling in reply. Her muscles tensed as she forced herself forward towards the ongoing battle, she would not give into his words. She could hear dark low chanting in her head, a similar effect that the One Ring held to those who looked upon it.
"I see Gandalf the White has sent yet another puppet before me" the voice continued on, inwardly sneering in disgust. The connection between them was lost for a few moments, as if the Witch King was trying to connect to someone else but failed. She felt the gaze of the Witch King on her once again, her heart sinking in dread. Corlia tried to block him out but his words continued on, his voice thick and harsh. Painfully she closed her eyes, her lip curling up as she fought against it. Images of Gil-galad's fall flashed in her mind, the inner wolf crying out at the painful memory. A dark laugh echoed, amused by her pain and misery. She knew he was trying to put her under his spell, a spell she could not be released from if she fell into it. She would not give in… she would not give into him…

The air was still as a large pang hit the heart of Legolas Greenleaf. The elf snapped his eyes to the sky but they were distant and unfocused, as if he was no longer a part of this world anymore. He tried his best to bite back his fears and worries but no matter how hard he tried he couldn't. His thoughts were often lingering back to Corlia; not having her by his side unsettled him greatly. He wanted to be with her, protect her from the evil in this world but knowing he could not be there with her through these dark times made him silently suffer. Gimli analysed the elf that he sat next to, inwardly laughing at himself at the situation. He, a dwarf, was worried about an elf… a Mirkwood elf for that matter! Some of the Rohan men glanced at the elf as they passed him in their encampment, their own fears and doubt plaguing their hearts.
"Don't worry lad they'll be fine" Gimli voiced as he tried to comfort the strange companion but Legolas's expression did not change.

The dwarf continued to sharpen his axe, wondering how long it would be until he could smash it into an orc's head. Gimli would never turn down the opportunity to battle; he loved the cries of war when racing into battle with his dwarves. His heart saddened as he realised there were no other dwarves by his side this fight, instead there were men and an elf. He smiled in amusement that he was fighting alongside an elf instead of against one but he soon frowned. What if they defeat Sauron and the dwarves and elves go back to fighting one another? What if Gimli had to fight against Legolas's kin? Gimli's heart dropped for a moment; he had been so wrapped up in this ongoing battle against Sauron he had almost forgotten about the battles his kin had fought countless times before. Gimli had become attached to Legolas and secretly enjoyed his company; he was so different that it was oddly pleasant to spend time with him. Gimli closed his eyes for a moment, hoping that a time will never come where he'll have to decide between his kin or his friendship with Legolas. The dwarves were a stubborn race, he was living proof of that, but Gimli wondered if he could ever change the dwarves opinions about the elves… or at least give Legolas a chance of befriending them. Footsteps of a small troop of men passing by caught Gimli's attention as he opened his eyes, his thoughts drifting elsewhere. They were tightly clad in armour, probably the group of men assigned for keeping watch this night. Gimli wondered if he was worrying for no reason, would he and Legolas even survive this battle? At this moment his eyes hardened in determination, his loyalty as strong as it was to his own father. Gimli would do his best to defend, not only Legolas but all the friends he had made over his journey. He would fight until the very end, even if it meant marching up to Sauron himself to give him a piece of his axe.

Legolas was so lost in his own thoughts that he did not notice the inner battle Gimli fought, his fingers lingering onto the sword that Corlia gave him. The sword hilt felt comforting for a moment but it soon turned cold to the tips of his fingers.
"She is charging at them head on, the words of Pippin being put into action" Legolas told him, his eyes finally focusing as he looked at the dwarf with a forced smile that didn't reach his eyes. Gimli paused in his sharpening of his weapon, taking in the elf's words as he recollected himself. Had Legolas noticed him lost in his own thoughts? Gimli dared not to ask.
"Yer don't know that for sure" Gimli naturally said but his eyebrows furrowed together as Legolas seemed to grow more concerned, his eyes falling back up to the sky. A moments silence passed between them, the elf trying to find the words he wanted to say.
"They say elves have a connection to those they choose to be with, we cannot see what the other does but we feel it" the ellon quietly explained to him as he fiddled with his hands in his lap, rubbing them together.
"I can feel she is nearing danger, the darkness is twisting around my own heart like thorns. My very soul is strained, a slight tingle being felt on the tips of my fingers. .." Legolas continued on. Gimli decided not to question more about his strange manner, he merely grumbled while awkwardly stroking his dirty beard.
"I'm sure we'll see them soon enough" Gimli told him after a moments silence.
"Yes we will" a new voice spoke breaking Gimli out of his thoughts. The pair looked across to Aragorn who patted the elf on the shoulder. Legolas looked at him in relief; he was thankful that someone was here who understood and felt the same as he did. Although Aragorn was no elf he had lived among them for many years and learnt the ins and out of them.
"Come, the King requires our presence" Aragorn continued on and Legolas closed his eyes for a brief moment, standing himself up as he followed the two to the largest tent around.