@LOTRFaith : Yes. It is me. The Adromir who always likes to leave you all in a coma with my dreadful cliffies from Mordor! No, I'm well. I'm just waiting for the 'opportune moment' to come out with those cliffies you love so much. Savvy?
@Kayo : You want Éowyn to die? God, you really hate her don't you? LOL!!
@Chanra : Thank you for that elvish birthday wish!
@feanen : There's no cliffie. For now. I'm saving them for you in the next chapters! He! He!
@Kelsi : Better and better? Holy sh…I mean crap, I hope you're right! Thank you. And I'm writing, I'm writing!
@Aranel of Mirkwood : Legolas the Poster sang to me a Birthday song? Oh, how sweet! (I hope Schumacher got down with a bad flu or something on the race day.)
@Fire Breathing Ferret : You have such a wild imagination! Ioreth the wicked woman! I like it! But no, not in this story, though! LOL!!!!!
@szhismine : It gave you a heart attack? Do you want more, cause I got several cliffies here to throw at you!
@Alkvingiel : Yes. A poster from Allposters.com will be a very good birthday present! (Hint.)
@layla146 : You don't want 'maybe'? Hmmm…how about 'probably'? Nah, just kidding. The drama and angst will come. Wait and see! And thank you!
@Manders1953 : Most of those stuffs including Denethor trying to burn Faramir alive does happen in the book. (that's scary!) Do read the book and have fun finishing the hundreds of pages! He! He!
@pirate-chica : I love the ROTK trailer! It's incredible!
@Kirsten : Good. Keep waiting and be ready to be surprised. Your nightmare is about to begin.
@IrishQT : I'm 28, can you believe it?
@RuByMoOn17 & Sailor Elf : I will!
@Veryawen, Lucy, ErfeaKM, Aredhe1314; Jamie, tbiris, Lady Lenna, Mcat, Menthol : Thank you!!!!!
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Solemn faces gathered around the large table in Minas Tirith council hall. All the lords of Gondor were there, as well as Gandalf the wizard, Gimli the dwarf, Legolas the elf with Commander Jaden from Mirkwood, Elrond's twin sons of Rivendell, King Éomer of Rohan, and Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth. A tinge of sadness struck Aragorn's heart at Halbarad's absence, for the Dunadain had perished in the Pelennor Field battle.
They all watched in silence as Gandalf stood tall and gave his counsel. "There are great forces arrayed against us in Mordor. Hardly has our strength sufficed to beat off the first assault. Then this war might be without hope, as Denethor had perceived. Not if we sit here, enduring siege after siege."
"Then what do you suggest we do, Gandalf? Surely not retreat?" Prince Imrahil voiced out, frowning.
"That is definitely out of the question!" Gimli interjected. "I do not come hundreds of leagues from home just to turn back from the taste of victory!"
"Dwarf. Always so cocky," Elrohir teased, much to Legolas and Elladan's amusement. Aragorn and the others couldn't help but smile at the dwarf's obvious impatience.
"I agree with you Gimli. Retreat is never the option," Gandalf told the dwarf. "We still have hope but not by arms. Into the midst of all these came the Ring of Power, lug by the two hobbits to Mount Doom to get it destroy. This is where our hope truly lies to defeat the darkness. If Sauron regains the Ring, your valor is in vain and his victory will be swift and complete. And all will be forfeited. Sauron knows the Ring's destruction will mean his own, but he does not know yet where it is so we still have hope."
They all waited in anxious silence at Gandalf's next words.
"We have not the ring, and we cannot achieve victory by arms. But by arms we can give the Ring-bearer his only chance, though frail it may be. We must go on and push Sauron to his last throw. We must call out his hidden strength so he shall empty his land and give the hobbits excess to Mount Doom. Let us be bait, keep Sauron occupied until it is too late for him to know what we truly intended."
There was even more thick silence afterwards as they looked at one another in shock and dismay.
"Are you saying that we have to walk right there as you please into their lair and wreak as much havoc as we can?" Gimli summed up.
Gandalf nodded. "That's right, Gimli. We are to be the decoy to distract the enemy."
After a beat, Gimli cried out, "Good! That's the best suggestion I've ever heard in ages!"
Legolas, Éomer and the twins chuckled at the dwarf's enthusiasm while the others around them instantly went up into a round of murmurs and whispers in mixed reactions. Seeing this, the new king of Gondor stood and put up a hand.
As the noise died down, Aragorn began, "Let's not reject the counsel of Gandalf. If not for him, all would have been lost long ago. I as one will go on as I have begun. We came to the very end, gentlemen, where hope and despair were akin. This coming battle might surely be our last. So knowing this, I will not command any one of you to come along to what might be a vain effort. Choose your decision at your will."
At that, Prince Imrahil rose. "As for me and my men, we will not turn back until we settle all this! Sauron will fall!"
"As is mine," Éomer said next. "Aragorn has given aid to my people when we needed it, so I will aid him when he calls. Besides, this is not only Gondor's trouble. It is ours to share."
The big hall grew din when the rest of them also voiced out their agreement to join forces. Nodding, Gandalf then asked for their full attention. "Such willingness is what we will need to bring down Sauron. But we cannot leave this city unmanned."
"It will be not unmanned!" a voice came from the door suddenly. They all turned and saw Faramir standing there, albeit shakily.
Aragorn's eyes widened. "Faramir! Didn't I tell you to get rest?"
"Yes you did, my liege." The young man walked closer towards the table.
"Then why are you here?"
"I have taken rest just like you ordered. Now, I'm here to serve you. I won't be of good in another battle with the enemy, but I shall give my all to see that the White City will be here to receive your return, my king. My father had given up as your steward, but I won't make the same mistake again," Faramir said firmly, gazing unwaveringly at Aragorn. Denethor's death deeply pained him, but his father's intention to burn him alive had shaken him even more. Faramir vowed to live up to his blood of his ancestors. The Ecthelions were strong and noble, and he was one of them.
Aragorn nodded, deeply glad of the younger man's obvious determination and loyalty. "Then I'm proud to have you as my steward."
Prince Imrahil smiled at his nephew. "Have a seat beside me, Faramir, before you fall onto your face."
Faramir obliged and sat down next to his maternal uncle. Before the council started to plan the next strategy, Aragorn stared at Faramir and asked, "Tell me, Faramir. How did you escape lady Ioreth's strict eyes?"
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Lady Ioreth was fuming. Her first charge was missing from his bed, and the other one was making excuses for her escape. "For the tenth time, Lady Éowyn, I CANNOT let you out of this room!"
Éowyn sighed. "But I'm fine!"
"No, you are not! That knock you received on your head was enough that it rendered you senseless for a full day! Besides, your brother would not be happy if he finds you up and about after he had given me stern orders not to let you when you awaken!"
"Éomer gave strict orders?" Éowyn's eyes bulged. "Why, is this some kind of revenge?"
"Yes it is, sister!" Éomer suddenly entered the room. "And I expect you to submit to it!"
Legolas and Gimli who followed behind the man snickered into their hands as the siblings of Rohan glared at each other.
"I told you to stay in Edoras!" Éomer shouted.
"No, you didn't! You expect me to stay in Edoras!" Éowyn shouted back.
"What were you doing snooping into the battle?"
"Because I'm Rohan's shield maiden, that's why!"
"Yes and you got hurt for that!"
"If you know this would happen, then why did you teach me the skill of the blades?"
"Because I don't want you to be a defenseless woman!"
"Do I look defenseless to you?"
"No, but you surely look like a termagant to me!"
"Termagant!" Her eyes widened in ire. "Why, you barbarian!" Éowyn raised her fist and struck her brother's chest. Éomer caught her hand. "Cease, Éowyn! You will only hurt yourself more!"
She went perfectly still before bursting into tears. "Uncle Theoden…" she whimpered, collapsing onto Éomer's chest. Éomer sighed softly and hugged her tighter. "I know, sis. I know." He stroked his sister's hair, mindful of the bandage wrapped around her head. For a while, the room was silent saved for Éowyn's heartbreaking sobs.
A long moment later, Legolas cleared his throat. "Err… is it safe now for us to enter?"
Éowyn looked up and her face lighted with joy. "Legolas! You are unharmed!" She reached over and embraced him. Gimli frowned. "Why does the elf receive all your attention, my lady? What about me?"
She laughed softly as she leaned down, kissing the dwarf's cheek. "I'm glad you are well too, Master Gimli."
Gimli blushed, causing Legolas and Éomer to explode into laughter. To cover his embarrassment, the dwarf gruffly said, "Let's go see Merry and Pippin before we take our leave."
"Leave?" Éowyn's smile faltered. "What do you mean? Where are you going?"
Éomer grasped his sister's shoulders and helped her to sit on the bed. He told Éowyn of their next intent. Her face grew pale with her brother's every word. "M…Mordor? You are going to Mordor?"
When Éomer gravely nodded, she flung her arms around his neck and refused to let go. "Promise me you'll come back!"
"I promise, sister. Don't cry so. And we will only leave in two more days."
"I don't want to be left alone. You're all I have now that Uncle Theoden is dead!"
Éomer pulled back. "You won't be alone. This city will be well guarded. And I will return, Éowyn. I never break my word to you." He nodded at Ioreth way who had been listening to the whole exchange in silence. "Now mind Lady Ioreth. Do not leave this bed until she says so."
Ioreth smiled as she came closer. "I will look after her, my lord. And do not worry. Lady Éowyn will fully recover…if she does not decide to slip away and disappear from this room like one my patients recently did!"
"I fear that you are looking for me, lady?" Faramir appeared at the doorway as if being called. Aragorn and Prince Imrahil were directly behind him.
Aragorn chuckled. "Lady Ioreth, I give back to you my steward. I believe he has escaped your watch?"
Lady Ioreth glared at Faramir. "Ran away is more like it."
Faramir groaned and rolled his eyes. "I did not run away. I have works to do!"
"You shall take up your responsibilities, Faramir, after Ioreth has assured us of your health," Imrahil gently rebuked his nephew. But Faramir was no longer listening. He had already caught sight of Éowyn sitting beside Éomer on the bed. And Éowyn was staring intensely back at him.
"All right, my lords! Out! Every one of you! Let Lady Éowyn has her rest. And you, Lord Faramir, get back to that room and wait for me there. I'll be right behind to see you."
After kissing his sister's temple, Éomer followed the other males out. Legolas watched closely as Faramir kept on glancing behind him at the direction of Éowyn's room. The elf smiled widely and nudged Éomer beside him. "Don't worry, Éomer. Your sister will not be left alone even if you do not return from Mordor."
Éomer frowned. "What in the world do you mean?"
"You are her brother. You figure it out!" Legolas replied, nodding his head meaningfully at Faramir. The King of Rohan stared at the steward. His eyes widened when comprehension dawned on him. He turned to Legolas and whispered, "If he can curb my sister's recklessness than all the better! Besides, he's even better suited to her than an elf prince I know!"
Aragorn who walked beside them burst up laughing.
TBC….
Pretty calm there, right? Tomorrow will be a different story. Get ready for cliffies!!!!!!!!!!!!