CHAPTER 28 : Dark Times

"Faster! Faster!" Faramir yelled. It was no use; the horses were already going as fast as they could, but it made him feel better anyway. The Nazgûl were flying above them, on those filthy beasts. Occasionally they would come down, grab a rider and his horse, flinging them along and killing them immediately. Fury welled up in him at them, but mixed in that fury was a senseless fear. There was no way that any of them could kill a Nazgûl, and therefore all they could do was flee, flee to Minas Tirith, and pray that something would not make the Nazgûl start attacking the city.

Then, before him, riding at full speed out of the city, a white figure, on a stunning, white horse. At first Faramir did not know who it was, then he saw more clearly and it came to him. "Mithrandir! It's Mithrandir!" he cried to his men, hoping that it would encourage them, urge them on. It did.

Mithrandir raised his staff, and a brilliant, pure, white light issued from it. The beasts began to withdraw, driven away by the light. Faramir smiled to himself, and urged on his horse. His men did the same.

They entered the city's gates, and the gates swung close as quickly as the guards could close them. Faramir turned to face his men. He noticed a few missing faces, but there was no time to mourn, not now. "Get yourselves some food and water, and get yourself more arrows if you need any. Then join the soldiers at their posts. You're going to be needed." The men nodded and went on their way.

Faramir then turned his attention to Mithrandir, a short distance away. "Mithrandir! They've taken Osgiliath! There are too many of them…" he began, then broke off when he noticed that Mithrandir was not alone. Mounted before Mithrandir on the horse was a hobbit, and Faramir had almost mistaken him for a child.

"Faramir?" Mithrandir began, then noticed him staring at the hobbit, and said, "This is not the first Halfling you've met."

Faramir shook his head. "I came across Frodo and Sam, a few days ago."

The look on relief on Mithrandir's face confirmed Faramir's belief that he had done the right thing by letting those two go. "They're all right."

"Yes, yes they are. I gave them food and water and they went on their way. But I still worry for them. They're led by a creature named Gollum, and they're taking the path of Cirith Ungol."

The hobbit frowned, not understanding what was being said. "What's wrong?"

Mithrandir ignored him, and his eyes stayed on Faramir. "Come, you will tell me everything now."

Aislin and Liana rushed to the gates, both worried sick about Faramir's fate. Horses crammed the area, and the men who had fought in Osgiliath were making their way to obey the orders that they were given. Faramir was nowhere in sight. Aislin looked around and picked out one soldier that she knew. "Alban! Alban! Where is Faramir?"

Alban gave her a tired smile. "Don't you worry about him, miss, he's fine. I think he went to speak with Mithrandir. He's not hurt, which is much more than some of us can say."

It was then that Aislin noticed that Alban's left arm was bleeding. "I'm sorry… I didn't notice. Come with me, I'll dress your wound, and then you can have some food and water," she said. Alban opened his mouth to protest, but she cut him off. "You were from Osgiliath, and you don't have family in Minas Tirith. Who were you expecting to go to? The guardhouses are going to be crammed with soldiers, you can spend almost the whole day waiting to have your wound attended to. Come with me, you'll be saving a lot of time, and then you can join the other soldiers." She took his right arm, and led him to her house.

Liana watched Aislin leading Alban away, and then she turned and slipped off into the crowd by herself. She wouldn't be needed when her mother took care of Alban, she was going to look for Faramir.

"I suppose Cirith Ungol is safer than trying to enter by the gates. Frodo and Sam know the risk they're taking, but still I worry for them," Faramir finished.

Mithrandir sighed. "Don't we all. But there's nothing we can do to help now. We just have to trust to their judgement."

"Faramir! Faramir!"

Faramir turned to see Liana running to him. Tears streamed down her face, but she was smiling. Faramir could feel a smile spreading across his face. Just seeing her angelic face was such a comfort. He picked her up and hugged her tightly. "It's so good to see you again, Liana," he said to her, feeling tears sting his eyes. Then he looked around. "Where is Aislin?"

"She went to dress the wounds of one of your men," Liana said. "I slipped away, to come and look for you."

"You shouldn't have done that," Faramir said sternly, but it was clear to all that he was pleased to see her. "I'd take you home now, Liana, but there's no time. I have so many things to do, so many things to attend to… Can you find your way back alone?"

"I'll accompany her." The hobbit, Pippin, stepped forward. "I might not be much protection, but perhaps you would feel better if I went with her. There is nothing much that I can do here to help for now, anyway."

Faramir nodded to Pippin gratefully. "Thank you, I appreciate it."

Liana walked next to Pippin. He was slightly taller than she was, and they were like two children wandering the streets together, though he was a lot older than she was (though not old enough to have come-of-age to the Hobbits, he had told her). "Why did you come to Minas Tirith?"

"I was too inquisitive," he said simply. "I'd tell you more, but I don't know how to put it."

"Oh. What's really happening in Gondor now, Pippin?"

"It's a really dark time, Liana," he said with a sigh. "We're all fighting for our freedom. Otherwise Sauron will have domination over Middle-earth, and Orcs will be everywhere. Do you understand that, Liana?"

"I do," she said. "I understand a lot of things. But… Faramir will save us, right?"

"I don't know, Liana. That's not something that anyone can answer. I suppose all that we can really do for now is to hope for the best to happen. There are many things happening right now, and many are things that I do not really understand. I'm still a young hobbit, you know. In fact, I don't suppose I am much less a child than you are."

"Are there any ways where we can help?"

Pippin laughed softly at that. "Of course there are! We can always help in some way. It's just that right now, I don't know what way we can help."

"Me too."

"Don't worry, Liana, one day you will find out how you can help."