She signed to Grafellion that he and his company would take the left flanks as she would go through the middle.
She was the only woman in the Gondorian army and was very proud of her high rank, she was the captain of East Ithilien, the most dangerous part of the woods, the most close to Mordor.
In her head she counted to ten, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10! with a heavy war cry she and her men jumped on the orcs they had ambushed.
The orcs were in total surprise but fight back heavy. The woman knew she was outnumbered but by her tactical plan she had a chance of winning.
Slaying orcs was nothing unusual to her and she easily stabbed one in the heart.
Suddenly she heard the sound of hoofs and an unknown warrior suddenly interfered in the battle.
She was not sure who he was or where he was from but he was on their side.
"A Rohhirim!" one of her men cried happily. [i]A rohhirim? What was he doing here?[/i] She wondered wile cutting off the head of an orc.
With him on their side they won the battle.
She and her men searched all the orcs but they were just a patrol. "Who is your captain?" it was the unknown man of Rohan.
He spoke common but had a small accent, she liked men with accents. She walked to him and removed her helmet "I am" she grinned by his surprised look.
"Nostariel daughter of Denethor the second Steward of Gondor, ally to Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn of Lothlorien and Captain of East Ithilien" she said proudly to the rider of Rohan.
He bowed to her "Théodred son of Theoden and prince of Rohan" he said. Nostariel smiled at him and bowed, he was handsome.
"What is a fair lady as yourself doing as captain?" Théodred asked her curious, the woman was beautiful but a mystery, a mystery he wanted to unravel.
She looked at him with her stormy gray eyes "I have wanted to be a soldier all my life, it want to protect my country and defend the people I love" she said with a calm voice.
"My father does not approve" she said in a lower tone of voice while looking to the ground.
"But why are you here, my lord?" she asked not wanting to speak about her father.
"Well I knew there was a damsel in distress so I came her to help her" he teased her.
Nostariel raised an eyebrow "We were doing just fine, and I was not in distress at all" she exclaimed while putting her hands on her hips.
He liked it that she was stubborn, when Éomer did it it was annoying but when she did it it was rather cute.
Théodred hesitated one moment before telling her the reason of his visited to Gondor "My father wants me to find a suitable wife, and if she was Gondorian that would be the best political marriage possible" he answered slowly.
She would laugh at him, he was absolutely sure. Nostariel looked into the blue eyes of her conversation partner, so he came here to marry? There were enough girls at court but she did not like the idea of one of those air headed girls marrying this handsome intelligent soldier. She only knew him a few hours but had already grown fond of him. "Yes, well I am going back to court tonight, so you can join me and I can introduce you to some ladies" she said uncomfortably.
He smiled and nodded, "But if you will excuse me, I have to tend my wounds and speak with my lieutenant" she told him and walked to their hiding place in the caves.
She walked to her room and let herself drop on the bed.
She looked at her arm, the bandage was all dirty.
She too it off, washed her wound and put new bandages on it. There was puss in it and it looked bad, but she would tend it better in Minas Tirith.
She was thinking of the young prince, [i]he was handsome, smart, humorous and brave.
If any Gondorian woman would marry him, it would be her. She wanted it to be her.
She just knew him for hardly an hour but she felt something for him, something she wasn't sure of. [/i]
Then she walked over to the room where she knew Graffelion would be, he was her right hand and she had known him since she was four years old.
"You and the prince sure see to fancy each other" he grinned.
I stomped him on his shoulder and stood next to him while looking at the map.
"Your brother Boromir, is still holding Osgiliath and we can almost call it victory" he told her happy.
[i]To reconquer Osgiliath was one of fathers dreams so he would be sure happy.[/i]
"Any news from Faramir?" she asked.
Graffelion knew that of the two Faramir was her favorite brother, not that she did not love Boromir, but Faramir understood her the best "The slayed a company of orcs yesterday, no casualties and he will join you in voyage to Osgilitath" he nodded and I smiled.
"Thank you Graffelion" she told him and walked outside again, the sky had darkened and she saw the prince sitting outside.
"Everyday it gets darker earlier" Nostariel sighed while looking at the east.
"Are you never afraid, my lady?" Théodred asked her.
She sat down next to him "Everyday a little bit more" she whispered into the darkness.
He looked at her, her glance into infinity.
[i]She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen, he had fallen for her right away, she had stolen his heart.[/i]
She saw him looking and smiled at him.
Nostariel had been thinking of him, he was handsome, she felt good with him and there was this feeling she had felt right away is that love on first sight?
She saw him looking at him and turned to him, blushing and smiling, his blue eyes piercing in his.
"Shouldn't you marry for love?" she asked him.
He nodded "What if I already found what I came here looking for? What if I love her?" Théodred asked her whispering nervous.
Nostariel looked at him, she never had a love declaration before, her heart was racing in her chest "Where is she then?" she asked breathless.
"Right here in front of me" he whispered as he kissed her slowly.
She draped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. It felt good, right as if it belonged.
She pulled her lips of his and smiled.
"This is quick" she said.
"Too quick?" he asked disappointed.
Nostariel shook her head, "I feel that you are the one and in this times of war, love must conquer above all" she said shyly and he smiled.
"Then it is settled will ask your father for your hand tomorrow" he said happily while taking her hand in his.
She was qualified, she was beautiful, intelligent and made him feel like he was floating on air.