Author's note: Lots of issues to address here. I know it seems that Lilli can't make up her mind, but there are only two that she truly loves and that's Boromir and Legolas. Faramir is like a good friend to her and she doesn't really want a relationship with him. She was just saying goodbye to him and wanted him to know how much she cares for him.
As for Frodo, who wouldn't love him? He's got those big blue eyes and just begs to be taken care of. She shares a special bond with him because they're both Ringbearers and have a very difficult task ahead of them.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the possibility of Legolas making an entrance. It could happen, especially after what happens in this chapter. And as always, thanks for all the reviews! I've enjoyed writing this, even though it has taken a lot out of me. I appreciate your thoughts as it helps me improve on my writing. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings, just my own character.
Elenya by Shelly
CHAPTER THIRTY
The next day started the same as always for her as she continued to care for the wounded. But she knew it was about to get a whole lot worse as she heard talk of the wall being breached, and she knew that the Pelennor would soon be host to the many forces of the enemy.
Gandalf returned with a fresh batch of wounded soldiers from the Causeway Forts, and he stopped long enough to tell her that Boromir and Faramir were still alive the last he saw of them before continuing on his way to see Denethor, and she whispered a prayer of thanks that they were okay.
Later that evening, word came that fires had been seen where the enemy was approaching the gate, and she began to worry for the two brothers as the news was dire. Then she heard that a sortie was being prepared to come to the aid of those troops who were left fighting, and soon a trumpet blast was heard that signaled their departure; she waited with baited breath to see what came of it.
The soldiers returned first followed by those who had made up the sortie, and to see how few were left struck fear into her heart. How could they possibly defend themselves with so few left?
Then Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth appeared and he had in his arms Faramir, who didn't look good at all as he was slumped forward and only the Prince's strong arm kept him from falling as he took him on to see Denethor. Then she saw Gandalf riding in on Shadowfax supporting someone as well, and her heart leapt up into her throat as she knew without looking who it was. Surprisingly he stopped and brought his charge inside to lay him on a bed, and her eyes filled with tears as she saw Boromir's pale face which was whiter than the sheets he lay on.
"What happened?" she asked in a quivering voice as she saw the gaping wound to his gut which she covered with a sheet. Boromir, her beloved, was dead.
"He was mortally wounded by a soldier from Harad. Faramir was wounded also while fighting to keep him from getting further harmed by the soldier before the Prince got him," Gandalf answered. "Lilli, I'm sorry."
She sat at his bedside, silent tears tracing down her cheeks as she touched his face and brought up his hand to kiss the back of it. "If he is dead, then why aren't I?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Perhaps I was wrong to say what I did," he admitted. "I said it to see how serious you were about bringing him back, to give you something to think about. You are mortal, but you would still live if he died. Besides, do you think I would've let you do it if it were true? Your task is too important to risk on such a gamble."
She closed her eyes to try and shut out the pain. She had seen him die once already, but to do so again was more than she could bear, but a voice inside her told her that Faramir was wounded as well and might need her help. "I want to see Faramir," she said as she rose to her feet.
Gandalf nodded and told one of the mounted soldiers to bring Boromir's body to his father as he took Lillisandra up on Shadowfax and went on to the White Tower. There she walked inside and saw that Faramir had been laid on a bed in the chamber but Denethor was nowhere to be found. Lowering herself down beside him, she touched her hand to his forehead and was shocked to feel it burning up with fever, no doubt from the poison which coursed through his veins.
"Faramir," she whispered as her heart was glad to see he was still alive, and she knew then that she couldn't let him die like she had his brother. Taking the ring from around her neck, she started to put it on, but Gandalf's hand stopped her before she went any further.
"Lilli, you can't," he said firmly. "You do this and you'll surely die. You're not strong enough to bring two back."
"What do I care if I die?" she answered. "As long as he lives I consider it a small price to pay for letting Boromir die."
"And what will he think of that?" he countered. "Do you think he would wish you to die for him? He will live," he assured her. "He just needs the right medicine."
She thought about the last time Boromir had died, and heard Legolas' words to her when she had contemplated her death. He had told her then that there would be many that would miss her if she died, and she knew that to be true as she would miss her friends deeply as well.
Suddenly it seemed as though she withered like a flower as she collapsed in tears against Gandalf, who held her and let her cry out her fears and her sorrow on his shoulder.
Minas Tirith was beseiged from all directions as the forces of Mordor surrounded the city. Denethor finally returned to sit by his son's side, his face as pale as Boromir's was in death, and she left to go back and help tend to the wounded as she would rather make herself useful than sit around and wallow in her grief.
Word came to her that Faramir was dying, and her heart constricted painfully in her chest as she didn't want to lose him, too, but there was nothing she could do for she still had her fate to think about. She still had to defeat Sauron if he came against them in full possession of the ring, and she had a frightening vision of the Dark Lord appearing with Frodo's head mounted upon his mighty sword of shadows and death. Seeking fresh air, she stumbled outside although it still smelled of blood and death out here...and smoke.
Her eyes widened as she saw the first circle of the city burning; she saw small round shapes lying around her feet, and upon looking closer she drew back in horror as they were the heads of all the fallen warriors that had fought and given their lives for their country. Apparently the enemy had thrown them over on catapults to try and shake their courage further to the breaking point.
Then she saw a small figure moving among the fires and he was running towards her, looking around as if he were searching for something or someone. "Pippin!" she called out.
He looked her way, squinting to see her through the dark smoke. "Lilli!" he cried as he rushed towards her. "Where's Gandalf? I need to find him right away!"
"Why? What's wrong?" she asked as she crouched down in front of him. He looked truly dreadful as his eyes were wide with worry and fear and he breathed heavily, coughing from time to time as smoke filtered into his lungs.
"It's Faramir," he panted. "Denethor's gone mad and plans to burn his son and himself as well! It is madness!"
"Pippin, calm down," she told him as she smoothed his hair back from his face. "I will help you find Gandalf. Follow me!" She led him through the maze of men rushing past them to try and put out the fires until they finally spotted Gandalf, who was in front of the Gates mounted on Shadowfax. She started to call out to him, but her voice was drowned out by a great boom as the gates were hammered by a great ram and soon shattered into shards as it exploded. She drew Pippin against her and covered him with her body to protect him, her eyes widening when she looked back as it seemed as if a great shadow stood within the blasted opening, a shadow of great evil as the Lord of the Nazgul had come to destroy them all.
****************
Somehow I think I'm on the Boromir fan hit list now. It's sad that he died. *sob*
Maybe I should say again that I borrowed events from the book. I try to keep the perspective on Lilli so it won't seem that I'm blatantly writing exactly the same thing that is in the book.
Next chapter: The Lord of the Nazgul has arrived. Will this mean the destruction of Minas Tirith? Or will Lilli finally take up arms and defend the city her beloved had died fighting for?
Thanks for reading!
As for Frodo, who wouldn't love him? He's got those big blue eyes and just begs to be taken care of. She shares a special bond with him because they're both Ringbearers and have a very difficult task ahead of them.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the possibility of Legolas making an entrance. It could happen, especially after what happens in this chapter. And as always, thanks for all the reviews! I've enjoyed writing this, even though it has taken a lot out of me. I appreciate your thoughts as it helps me improve on my writing. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings, just my own character.
Elenya by Shelly
CHAPTER THIRTY
The next day started the same as always for her as she continued to care for the wounded. But she knew it was about to get a whole lot worse as she heard talk of the wall being breached, and she knew that the Pelennor would soon be host to the many forces of the enemy.
Gandalf returned with a fresh batch of wounded soldiers from the Causeway Forts, and he stopped long enough to tell her that Boromir and Faramir were still alive the last he saw of them before continuing on his way to see Denethor, and she whispered a prayer of thanks that they were okay.
Later that evening, word came that fires had been seen where the enemy was approaching the gate, and she began to worry for the two brothers as the news was dire. Then she heard that a sortie was being prepared to come to the aid of those troops who were left fighting, and soon a trumpet blast was heard that signaled their departure; she waited with baited breath to see what came of it.
The soldiers returned first followed by those who had made up the sortie, and to see how few were left struck fear into her heart. How could they possibly defend themselves with so few left?
Then Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth appeared and he had in his arms Faramir, who didn't look good at all as he was slumped forward and only the Prince's strong arm kept him from falling as he took him on to see Denethor. Then she saw Gandalf riding in on Shadowfax supporting someone as well, and her heart leapt up into her throat as she knew without looking who it was. Surprisingly he stopped and brought his charge inside to lay him on a bed, and her eyes filled with tears as she saw Boromir's pale face which was whiter than the sheets he lay on.
"What happened?" she asked in a quivering voice as she saw the gaping wound to his gut which she covered with a sheet. Boromir, her beloved, was dead.
"He was mortally wounded by a soldier from Harad. Faramir was wounded also while fighting to keep him from getting further harmed by the soldier before the Prince got him," Gandalf answered. "Lilli, I'm sorry."
She sat at his bedside, silent tears tracing down her cheeks as she touched his face and brought up his hand to kiss the back of it. "If he is dead, then why aren't I?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Perhaps I was wrong to say what I did," he admitted. "I said it to see how serious you were about bringing him back, to give you something to think about. You are mortal, but you would still live if he died. Besides, do you think I would've let you do it if it were true? Your task is too important to risk on such a gamble."
She closed her eyes to try and shut out the pain. She had seen him die once already, but to do so again was more than she could bear, but a voice inside her told her that Faramir was wounded as well and might need her help. "I want to see Faramir," she said as she rose to her feet.
Gandalf nodded and told one of the mounted soldiers to bring Boromir's body to his father as he took Lillisandra up on Shadowfax and went on to the White Tower. There she walked inside and saw that Faramir had been laid on a bed in the chamber but Denethor was nowhere to be found. Lowering herself down beside him, she touched her hand to his forehead and was shocked to feel it burning up with fever, no doubt from the poison which coursed through his veins.
"Faramir," she whispered as her heart was glad to see he was still alive, and she knew then that she couldn't let him die like she had his brother. Taking the ring from around her neck, she started to put it on, but Gandalf's hand stopped her before she went any further.
"Lilli, you can't," he said firmly. "You do this and you'll surely die. You're not strong enough to bring two back."
"What do I care if I die?" she answered. "As long as he lives I consider it a small price to pay for letting Boromir die."
"And what will he think of that?" he countered. "Do you think he would wish you to die for him? He will live," he assured her. "He just needs the right medicine."
She thought about the last time Boromir had died, and heard Legolas' words to her when she had contemplated her death. He had told her then that there would be many that would miss her if she died, and she knew that to be true as she would miss her friends deeply as well.
Suddenly it seemed as though she withered like a flower as she collapsed in tears against Gandalf, who held her and let her cry out her fears and her sorrow on his shoulder.
Minas Tirith was beseiged from all directions as the forces of Mordor surrounded the city. Denethor finally returned to sit by his son's side, his face as pale as Boromir's was in death, and she left to go back and help tend to the wounded as she would rather make herself useful than sit around and wallow in her grief.
Word came to her that Faramir was dying, and her heart constricted painfully in her chest as she didn't want to lose him, too, but there was nothing she could do for she still had her fate to think about. She still had to defeat Sauron if he came against them in full possession of the ring, and she had a frightening vision of the Dark Lord appearing with Frodo's head mounted upon his mighty sword of shadows and death. Seeking fresh air, she stumbled outside although it still smelled of blood and death out here...and smoke.
Her eyes widened as she saw the first circle of the city burning; she saw small round shapes lying around her feet, and upon looking closer she drew back in horror as they were the heads of all the fallen warriors that had fought and given their lives for their country. Apparently the enemy had thrown them over on catapults to try and shake their courage further to the breaking point.
Then she saw a small figure moving among the fires and he was running towards her, looking around as if he were searching for something or someone. "Pippin!" she called out.
He looked her way, squinting to see her through the dark smoke. "Lilli!" he cried as he rushed towards her. "Where's Gandalf? I need to find him right away!"
"Why? What's wrong?" she asked as she crouched down in front of him. He looked truly dreadful as his eyes were wide with worry and fear and he breathed heavily, coughing from time to time as smoke filtered into his lungs.
"It's Faramir," he panted. "Denethor's gone mad and plans to burn his son and himself as well! It is madness!"
"Pippin, calm down," she told him as she smoothed his hair back from his face. "I will help you find Gandalf. Follow me!" She led him through the maze of men rushing past them to try and put out the fires until they finally spotted Gandalf, who was in front of the Gates mounted on Shadowfax. She started to call out to him, but her voice was drowned out by a great boom as the gates were hammered by a great ram and soon shattered into shards as it exploded. She drew Pippin against her and covered him with her body to protect him, her eyes widening when she looked back as it seemed as if a great shadow stood within the blasted opening, a shadow of great evil as the Lord of the Nazgul had come to destroy them all.
****************
Somehow I think I'm on the Boromir fan hit list now. It's sad that he died. *sob*
Maybe I should say again that I borrowed events from the book. I try to keep the perspective on Lilli so it won't seem that I'm blatantly writing exactly the same thing that is in the book.
Next chapter: The Lord of the Nazgul has arrived. Will this mean the destruction of Minas Tirith? Or will Lilli finally take up arms and defend the city her beloved had died fighting for?
Thanks for reading!
