Disclaimer: I do not now, have not and unfortunately will not ever own Lord of the Rings. (I am a bit obsessed though, with the story not individual people)

37.

We made our way down to the riverbank. Upon reaching it, we stood and watched the ships grow ever closer. Aragorn had told us that Gandalf had instructed him to look to the black ships, these were the very same ships and we had to stop them from reaching Gondor. We stood upon a rocky beach, simply watching as the ships approached our position, making no movement to attack. As they drew nearer we could see that they had so many siege weapons, that there was almost nowhere for them to walk upon the decks of their ships. Once the ships were in shouting distance, Aragorn called out to them with a voice which would tolerate no disobedience.

"You may go no further. You will not enter Gondor."

One of the ship's captains got to his feet and stared at us in disbelief. His entire crew laughed at Aragorn's claim. Not believing that a group of four could do anything to stop them from entering Gondor. The captain strode to the side of his ship and shouted back at us.

"Who are you to deny us passage?"

Without taking his eyes from the ship's captain, Aragorn spoke quietly to Legolas.

"Legolas, fire a warning shot past the bosun's ear."

Legolas whipped an arrow from his quiver and set it to his bow, faster than I ever could have. Even though I had noticed that I ave become faster at it since leaving Isengard. Gimli leaned towards the Elf and gave him some unneeded advice.

"Mind your aim."

Legolas pulled the arrow back and took aim; Gimli knocked the end of Legolas's bow just as he fired. The arrow flew on its new path and buried itself in the chest of a man standing just to the right of the captain. Gimli covered his mouth in feigned surprise. Legolas looked at the Dwarf incredulously; even Aragorn looked at the Dwarf in disbelief. Before anyone could say anything else, Gimli spoke loudly to the pirates aboard their ships.

"That's it. Right. We warned you. Prepare to be boarded."

Laughter came once more from the ships and with it the mocking reply of.

"Boarded? By you and whose army?"

There was no expression on Aragorn's face as he replied almost inaudibly.

"This army."

The army of the Dead burst through the stone behind us, glowing green and menacing as they stormed across the water and into the awaiting ships. I watched as the Dead attacked each of the ships, killing all who were aboard and they showed no mercy. The screams and cries of the pirates were frightening to hear, for they were screams of pure terror. I noticed Aragorn watching with something akin to pity in his eyes, pity for the Men on the ships who were slaughtered by the Dead. I tried to block the sounds from my ears, but to no avail. My hearing was too sharp now, and the only way to block the sight of the pirates dying in grisly ways, was to shut my eyes tightly and see only blackness.

I felt a hand on my shoulder; I opened my eyes to see Legolas looking at me with an understanding half smile on his face. I knew then that he did not like this any more than I did, he was just more used to it. I tried to smile back, and then the four of us waded into the river to board the now empty ships. They would help us get to Gondor, and it would be much swifter then walking.

We got some much needed rest once we had boarded the boats. It was strange to not be doing anything, for so long we had been running, and fighting that this small moment of stillness was nearly maddening. We had to stay below deck as much as possible in case there were members of the enemy waiting somewhere for the pirates to arrive. Legolas and Gimli were scouring the belly of the ship in search of arrows and any other weapons which could be of use. I was watching the river flow by through one of the small windows in the side of the ship, watching the beginnings of a ruined city over run with orcs, go by. Light footsteps sounded behind me and a voice spoke softly on my right.

"That is all that remains of the once proud city of Osgiliath. Orcs and Men have fought over the city for many generations, each taking it back from the other. It is my hope that this shall be the last time which orcs shall lay claim to it."

I turned my gaze from the ruined city to see Aragorn watching as well, an expression of sadness and hope in his eyes. I know that he will be a great king; he will lead his people out of the darkness of Sauron and into the light of the Valar. If only we make it through the upcoming battle for Gondor. He smiles a little when he turns to me. His hand rising to cup my face, his thumb brushes lightly over my cheek. Aragorn's voice was soft and nearly pleading.

"Will you not stay here where it is safe? You do not have to fight with us. Raven, please remain here where nothing can hurt you."

My heart ached when he asked me to stay behind. I could feel tears forming and threatening to fall. I could not stay behind and leave him unprotected; I had to go with him…I had to fight at his side. I had promised to be there, to be at his side when he fought, I had promised to protect him as he went down this path. I had promised to do what I could to help him become the king he was born to be. I shake my head, not daring to look at him, as my voice shakes when I answer him…as I disobey his request.

"I promised to be at your side. I promised to protect you. I am sorry, Lord Aragorn, but I cannot remain here while you are fighting the armies of Sauron. Please forgive me, for I cannot stay behind."

I could not look at him. The tears fall, falling down my face and onto his fingers. I turn my face in his hand and press my lips to his palm for the briefest of moments. Then move my head to let my cheek rest back in his hand.

I have never felt this way before…not even with Tharadain. Was it wrong for me to feel more for Aragorn, than I did for someone who I had spent an undeterminable amount of time with? I do not regret any of the time which I had spent with Tharadain, nor the feelings I had for him. The feelings which I have for Aragorn are stronger, and seem more real to me than anything else I have ever felt for anyone. Aragorn's strained voice snaps me back to what is going on, rather than what has already happened.

"It is alright, Raven. I did not think that you would agree to stay here, yet I had to ask. I had to try to persuade you to stay. I do thank you for everything you have done. For saving my life in Moria, and for showing me things which I had long since thought did not exist anymore. I only ask that you attempt to be safe. Please Raven, be as safe as possible."

Aragorn looked at me with such intensity that I could only nod in response. He smiled slightly, leaned forward, and kissed me. Aragorn held me close—his arms around my waist—and I kissed him back. I do not know how long we kissed; only that it had to be one of the best moments of my life, and it was over far too soon.

Aragorn pulled away, smiled at me and said. "It is time to enter this battle." Legolas and Gimli joined us, standing with their weapons ready as Aragorn continued. "Time to make our presence known to these orcs. Time to take as many down as we can. Time to free Middle-Earth."

He took my hand and led us up to the deck. Once there he let go, drew his sword, and crouched out of sight of the orcs waiting on shore. Waiting for the most opportune moment to leap ashore and enter the battle. We heard a voice shout at the ships, a voice shouting insults from the ruined city.

"Late as usual, pirate scum! There's knife-work here that needs doing. Come on, you sea rats! Get off your ships!"

And so we did. The four of us leapt off the ship and onto the ground, our weapons drawn. We simply stood there for a moment, watching the assembled orcs, and letting them see us. Legolas looked excited, nearly bouncing on his toes in anticipation. Aragorn began striding forward, a determination in his face and gait, as he walked he brought his sword up and began to walk faster towards the awaiting army of orcs. Gimli spoke hurriedly to Legolas as we followed Aragorn across the open ground to the enemy.

"There's plenty for the both of us. May the best Dwarf win."

Legolas drew his bow and began firing into the orc army. Aragorn charged forward, his sword raised and at the ready. I followed close behind him, already firing arrows. As we charged forward, the army of the Dead appeared around us, pouring onto shore from the ships and charging towards the orcs. Aragorn let out a yell and swung his sword at a particularly ugly orc who had two skulls sitting atop his helmet. That orc and many others went down, felled by Aragorn's sword, Gimli's axe, Legolas and my arrows, and the army of Dead who swept through the orcs like a wind. Everywhere the Dead army went, they left a path of dead orcs behind them, they spared no one and they were unstoppable. The army of Dead quickly obliterated every orc nearby, then they spread out from Osgiliath to where the main battle was taking place. They were a river of green specters, flowing over structures and the bodies of those they killed, flowing onwards to bring about more death to all who stood in their way.

I quickly lost sight of Legolas and Gimli; I focused entirely on Aragorn and the enemies surrounding him. We moved from the docks of Osgiliath out into the open field which lay between us and Minas Tirith, fighting any remaining orcs which the Dead had passed by. As I ran after Aragorn—firing arrows at the army of orcs and Men from the east—I felt something calling to me. Tugging at something inside me, a sense of pleading which came from all around me. There was a similar tugging in my mind, yet I could not stop long enough to figure out what it was, I had to keep fighting. The tugging became more persistent and I shook my head to try and rid myself of it. That action made me see something which I had not previously noticed. Scattered across the vast plain before us, were many creatures of enormous size. Creatures with four legs as long and wide as trees, heads the size of small hills, bodies the size of mountains, and long tusks as long as the ships which we had sailed here. These creatures were wreaking havoc upon the armies of Rohan. Many had been brought down and lay dead upon the ground, yet there were a few which remained and they were slaughtering people every time they took a step. They were magnificent, though very deadly, and I had to tear my eyes away from them.

I turned around in a circle, searching for Aragorn. I could not see him. I berated myself for getting distracted, for letting him out of my sight; and in that moment of further distraction, the pleading and tugging caught me off-guard.

It was as though I had fallen away from my body, leaving it above ground upon the plain of death. I sunk deep into the earth, falling through dirt and long buried bones. I kept falling until I found what had been calling to me; seeds, thousands of seeds which had been buried too deep to ever grow. Seeds that called to me for freedom, seeds that wanted to help in this battle for Gondor. Somehow I knew what I had to do.

On the surface I placed my hands upon the earth, digging my fingers as far into the dirt as they would go. Instinctively I opened my mind to the tugging, setting it free to run through my hands and deep into the earth. I poured some of myself into the earth, watching as the seeds moved closer to the surface and exploded with new life. Trees sprang up out of the ground, reaching high into the sky. Grasses grew tall and wild, tangling the orcs and dragging them back under the ground. Great brambles sprang forth, wrapping themselves tightly around any orc or Easterling that it could find, growing thorns as long as knives which punctured armor. I fed more of myself into the plants, making them grow bigger and stronger, making them take down more of the enemy.

I felt odd, as though I was floating and no longer connected to myself. I heard a voice inside my head screaming at me to stop, that I had done enough…but I could not stop. I kept pushing more into the ground, finding more seeds to give life to, more seeds to make grow. After I had made every single seed grow, I pushed myself onto my feet and searched for Aragorn. I found him fighting a few strides away, he was fighting with all the strength and skill which he possessed and he was winning against his foes. Then an orc caught my eye, he had a bow and its arrow was aimed straight for Aragorn.

Though I was unsteady and swaying on my feet, I picked up my bow and drew it as fast as I could, I fired it at the orc and felt relief when my arrow struck the orc in its chest. The orc fell backwards onto the ground to be pulled under the soil by the grass. I looked over at Aragorn to see him finishing off the other orcs he had been fighting; I took a step forward and fell to the earth. I heard shouting—whether it was from my mind or real, I know not. I felt the pounding of footsteps approaching before I no longer felt, saw, or heard anything. I fell into darkness and was powerless to resist its pull.

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