Disclaimer: I don't own LotRs.

Yay! another chapter. kid you not as i was finishing this chapter I was listening to 'City' by Hollywood Undead. sort of sets the tone for later chapters.

Also to Sophiashyaway and anyone else interested, these are some of the elvish translations from early chapters.

from chapter 21 when Haldri was talking to Legolas "En ale' lda ai edan" roughly means "Look after your mortal" and from chapter 27 when Dee and Legolas are at the feast "Melin ceni hin lîn síla i 'eladhach" means "I love to see your eyes shine when you laugh"

Thanks for all the reviews, I love you all.

All Shall Fade

"Here do I swear fealty and service to Gondor, in peace or war ... in living or dying ... from ..." Pippin tripped on his words, almost forgetting the rest of the oath. The time had finally come for Pippin to kneel before my father swear his allegiance to him and the Tower Guard, but they way my father was going about it, it seemed to be more of a private play for him and the few attendants and officials standing to the side, while two servants brought his meal to the black table laid out for him.

Even now he was grinning cruelly at Pippin trying to remember the rest of his oath.

Faramir and I stood far from the throne side by side and glanced at eachother. We both knew of the responsibilities that came with becoming one of the guards and were worried about such an innocent creature getting involved.

Luckily Pippin remembered the rest and carried on, "From this hour henceforth, until my lord release me or Death take me."

"And I shall not forget it, nor fail to reward that which is given." Father stood up from his throne and held out his hand expecting Pippin to kiss the large ring that bore the insignia of the House of Hurin on the black stone. I had forgotten to mention that part to him when helping him rehearse the oath. He kissed it rather reluctantly, to which Father lifted up his face to look at him, "Fealty with love. Valour with honour. Disloyalty with vengeance." He said as he sat at the table now covered with food. He directed the last part at Faramir and I.

I scratched absentmindedly at my hands. The incident with the Palantir happened barely a day ago, yet the wounds had not formed scabs, they had completely healed over but left red line all over my weather beaten hands.

The stinging sensation was still fresh in my memory.

"I do not think that we should so lightly abandon the outer defences. Defences that your brother long held intact." Father said as he piled the food onto his plate, he would even look Faramir in the eye as he spoke.

"What would you have me do?" Faramir asked. "I will not yield the river in Pelennor unfought. Osgiliath must be retaken." Father responded.

"My Lord, Osgiliath is overrun." This fact could be clearly seen by anyone, but not my father it seemed.

"Much must be risked in war." He stared at Faramir distastefully, then carried on preparing his meal. "But much can be saved as well." I finally spoke up. "Resources could be put to better use fortifying our own defences, mainly the outer wall and the gates, until reinforcements arrive ..." "From where, my daughter? Rohan?" Father interrupted, "On what grounds do you believe that Theoden will answer such an ancient call?"

"The grounds that King Theoden is a man of honour, and would not abandon those in need." I stood as still as a statue as I spoke, "I put my faith in him, and in the belief that we should defend what we have, not risk it."

Father did not look pleased with my opinion. "Your faith is misplaced then. Do not trouble yourself with things you will never understand." He dropped the last of his food onto his plate and reached for his goblet, "Is there a captain here who still had the courage to do his lord's will?"

Was he calling Faramir a coward? How could he, after everything he had done for Gondor. Faramir glanced down at me then back to our father.

"You wish now that our places had been exchanged. That I had died and Boromir had lived." He said softly. I couldn't believe what I was hearing him say, but how my father responded next made me sick to my stomach. He simple muttered into the brim of his goblet, "Yes ... I wish that," and calmly sipped his wine.

My mouth dropped.

Pippin looked just as shocked as I was, but Faramir's expression was one of defeat. His eyes were sad and the corner of his lip quivered slightly but he took a long breath and stood tall. "Since you were robbed of Boromir, I will do what I can in his stead." He bowed and began to leave, but I stopped him, "Faramir, don't." I pleaded, taking his hands in mine.

"The decision is not mine to make. My Lord has spoken and I must obey."

"Please don't leave. I'm not prepared to lose another brother."

"I must Deorwynn," He gently kissed my head and whispered, "It's up to you now. Protect our people." He turned and headed for the door, but looked back at Father one last time, "Should I return, think better of me Father."

"That will depend on the manner of your return."

If anyone else was horrified at my father's total lack of compassion for his son, they kept it to themselves. I on the other hand stormed over to my father fuming. "Father please reconsider this. What you are ordering is a suicide assault." I said.

"You forget you place Deorwynn. These matters are none of your concern." He said harshly.

"I am of the house of Stewards too Father. I do not wish to see lives wasted."

He refused to look at me and started to dine, but I reached out and caught his hand, forcing him to pay attention to me. "Father I am begging you. Don't do this. There are other ways we can fight off an attack,"

I suddenly felt pain in my hand, and looked to see what had caused it. To my surprise, one of the red lines began to bleed as though the skin had been split open, with small trickles of blood forming.

Father didn't notice the blood, he only noticed my rude action and looked to be insulted by my plea, "Your impertinence is most displeasing. When did you learn to be so rough, on your 'travels'?" He pried my hand away and fixed his sleeve. "One has to learn to be rough the world we live in" I said. "Away with you. Or if you do insist on staying, then sing for me." Father waved his hand and continued to eat.

I took a step back and looked at him in disgust. "How could you be so calm, after ordering you own son to go and die at the hands of an orc army?"

He paused, as though to think of a reasonable answer, "If he is to die, then it will be with honour as a soldier on a battlefield." He finally said.

"If he is to die it will be without mercy." I snapped and walked away from him. I couldn't stand the sight of him. As I passed a group of noblemen who looked at me with various expressions, most of them baffled.

Let them be baffled then. They weren't going to do anything else.

The cold air hit me like a wall as I walked out of the hall. I wanted to run after Faramir, wherever he was now, but he already made his decision. He would die for Gondor, even if Father hadn't ordered him to.

I looked down at my hand again, the cut looked deeper and more blood poured out from it. Had I cut it again? I didn't remember doing so.

I cleaned it up with my sleeve and walked along the edge of the courtyard. I looked down at whole city below. It was amazing to think this once proud city was my whole world, now in comparison to the thing I had seen it was just another spot on the map. When I reached the very end where a large gap in the wall was located, I leant against the white stone and watched the procession of Gondor's chosen victims for this attack, Faramir among them, slowly descend down the many levels until they appeared to be the size of ants. From below I could hear the soft cries and prayers of mothers, wives and children, flouting up like petals caught in the wind. They slowly filed out of the gates to form an assault formation

Strands of my hair began to fall from my bun, catching in the wind. I made no attempt to fix them, in fact I simply pulled the rest lose.

I felt so helpless, so ineffective, so alone. I couldn't do anything to prevent this.

The line of horses continues their procession to Osgiliath and their doom. With each passing second my heart grew heavier. I couldn't handle it anymore.

I turned away from the scene yet to take place and walked quickly back to the hall. I entered quietly and walked along the walls, not wishing to let my father see me. The nobles and attendants had been dismissed so no one knew I had returned. I stopped behind one of the pillars and stole a glance at my Father.

He was calmly finishing off his meal.

My breath hitched and I clenched my hands into fists, forcing myself to control my temper.

How could he just sit there? Eating while his only remaining son rides to his death?

"Can you sing, Master Hobbit?"

I hadn't realized that Pippin was still standing all alone at the edge of the throne, quietly waiting upon my father. He looked withdrawn.

"Yes, well ... well enough for my own people." Pippin looked down at his feet. "But we have no song for great hall and ... dark times."

"And why should your songs be unfit for my halls? Come, sing me a song."

Oh, perfect, I though bitterly. Drown out the screams of your soldiers so you can eat.

For a moment, Pippin was silent and I thought, and hoped, that he had no song to entertain my father. But the little Hobbit looked up as if he was looking out to a crowd. I held my breath and listened.

"Home is behind, the world ahead.

And there are many paths to tread."

The sweet tone of his gentle voice echoed around me. The sorrow laced in the words took me away from the hall. I could see Faramir and the other soldiers riding toward Osgiliath, swords drawn and their battle cries ringing silently in the air.

"Through shadow, till the edged of night.

Until the stars are all alight."

Suddenly I pictured Aragon, Gimli and Legolas riding toward the orcs. Behind them the Rohirrim and all who came from Rohan riding forward, swords, lances and bows ready. The orcs sneer as the two sides grew closer. Their bows were cocked and ready.

"Mist and shadow, cloud and shade.

All shall fade, all shall ... fade."

A loud clatter of silverware concluded Pippin's song and broke my vision. Father hadn't even acknowledge the fact that Pippin had sang, he just continued to eat.

xxxxx

Silence fell over the city. No one dared to make any noise, not even the smallest of children. Only the sound of drums in the distant made any noise.

I walked around in a daze, as though I was looking for something. But what? Hope?

I had lost both my brothers, my father will not listen any more, my people were in danger, and what could I do? Nothing. What hope did I have at doing anything?

As if by magic, I saw Gandalf sitting quietly on a pile of old grates by a shed, his face full of frustration and sadness. I approached him warily and sat across from him. He was looking at me but not really seeing me sit down.

Neither of us spoke for ten minutes.

"I'm sorry Gandalf." I finally muttered. He blinked and fixed his old eyes on me, "What for child?"

"I couldn't convince my father to act when he needed to, nor could I stop him making a rash decision. In the end I was just an annoyance. I failed you."

"No child." Gandalf shook his head and adjusted his grip on his staff, "You did what you could. Denethor is far from being reasoned with now. Even I had tried to speak with him, my words would have fallen on deaf ears."

I picked at the bloodstain on my sleeve, pulling the wayward threads loose, "How much must he loose to finally doing something?" I asked out loud.

"Everything it seems." Grunted Gandalf.

I pursed my lips and continued to fiddle with the threads, "You know your brother loved you very much." Gandalf said softly, "He went because he wished to protect everything he loved."

"I asked him not to go. But he said he had to and that ... it was up to me now." I quickly wiped my eyes to prevent any build up of tears.

Gandalf pulled himself up and stood over me. "Well know. What are you going to do now?" He asked. I looked up at him very confused, "Me?"

"Yes Deorwynn. What are you going to do about this battle?"

I was stunned, "I ... I ... What do you mean?" I stuttered. "Right before he left, Faramir passed his title as Denethor's heir to you. You are the next Steward by law and blood." Gandalf explained. "As such, you have the right to command Minas Tirith's forces."

I couldn't believe what he was saying. "But I know nothing of leading. You can't expect the people to follow a girl."

"No. I expect them to follow a woman." He held out his hand offering it to me. I took it and he pulled me up. "You have grown much Deorwynn, you are strong, be confident. In you is a leader waiting to be released."

Me? A leader? I've always followed Boromir and Faramir, but they were gone. Aragon I would follow in a heartbeat, but he was probably still in Rohan. Gandalf could lead us, yet here he was literally handing me the role. Should I take it? Could I do it? Could I take that power from him? From my father?

"So you are asking me to usurp my father's power?" I asked.

"Not in a sense. I merely say that you should exercise you right and act on behalf of the Steward." Gandalf let go of my hand and lent on his staff. "You are brave Deorwynn. Show that courage to your father and your people."

I remembered Sauron's words that night he came to me, "Always trying to be braver than what we really are."

'I'll show you who's brave.'

I looked Gandalf dead in the eye and nodded. "What must I do?"

Last line, shout out to the FotR. What will happen next? Will Dee be able to lead her people? And who is next to get sucker punched? next chap on its way