"This is where the smoke came from, right here!" spoke one low voice. "Surround the area! We must not let it escape, whatever kind of thing it is," said another voice.
Before the hobbits and Feavair could hide, four men strode into the clearing through the bushes. Immediately, Frodo and Sam were standing back to back with their swords in hand.
The Four men stopped when they saw them, and they were clearly surprised. They were all very tall and strong looking, wielding great spears and bows that were larger than the hobbits. They were clad in green and brown hues, probably for camouflage purposes. In their eyes, the only feature of their hooded faces she could see. Feavair saw the eyes that Boromir had. In fact, these men resembled Boromir very much.
"What is this that we have found?" exclaimed one. "Definitely not Orcs… as we expected." "Then what are they? They cannot be Elves… Elves do not walk in Ithilien any longer… but…" said a third one doubtfully. "This fair lady must be an elf! But… what of the other two… shorter ones?" another asked.
Sam gritted his teeth in annoyance.
"No, the two of us are not Elves, but you are correct in assuming our lady companion is," he stated. "When you are quite done with this conversation of yours, would you mind telling us who you are? We were quite content, you know, resting here, before you came trudging along."
"So it is as it's said… Elves are wondrous fair to look upon!" said the fourth man, the one of tallest stature. They all gazed at Feavair in wonder, and she began to feel uncomfortable. "I beg your pardon, good sir, but a question was asked of you," she said softly.
The tall man laughed, though his face was grim. "I am Faramir, Captain of Gondor. Moreover, the only beings walking the lands of Ithilien are servants of the Dark Tower, or the White Tower. Certainly no travelers… Come! We have not the time for riddles or parleys, so declare yourselves and your reasons for being here."
Frodo exchanged glances with the other two. Sam looked unsure, as if these men could not be trusted. Feavair seemed to think they were not trustworthy either, but she nodded to him.
"We are Hobbits of the Shire, which lies far to North West. I am Frodo son of Drogo, and this is Samwise son of Hamfast, a hobbit in my service. The Lady Elf is Feavair, who is aiding us on our journey, and we have come a long ways already. We came out of Rivendell with seven other companions: one was lost in Moria, the others left at Parth Galen by the Falls of Rauros. They were two other hobbits, a Dwarf, another Elf, and two Men. Aragorn and Boromir were their names," explained Frodo.
"Boromir, you say!?" cried all of them.
"Do you speak of Boromir son of Lord Denethor?" asked Faramir. "Such strange news you bring us. Boromir son of Denethor is High Warden of the White Tower, and our Captain-General. What do you have to do with him?" "Are you familiar with the words that Boromir brought to Rivendell? Seek for the Sword that was Broken. In Imladris it dwells," said Feavair suddenly.
Faramir was a little surprised to hear her speaking, but he was astonished to hear those words.
"They are familiar indeed. That is a somewhat token of your truth that you would also know them." "Aragorn is the bearer of Broken Sword, and Sam and I are the halflings the rhyme spoke of," replied Frodo.
"I see that might be so. And what is Isildur's Bane?" asked Faramir.
Frodo exchanged glances with the other two, and then spoke quickly. "That is hidden. It most likely will be made clear in time." Feavair gazed at Faramir intently, to see his reaction. He looked very much like Boromir, she noted. Almost as if they were…
"I must learn more of this… but not now. There is other urgent business at hand. I will leave two to guard you. If I return, we will speak more," he said.
Frodo bowed. "Farewell, and think what you will. Friends of ours are any enemies of the One Enemy. We would go with you, if we could hope to serve you, and if our errand permitted it."
"The Halflings are courteous folk, whatever else they may be. But I must say, I would have expected Elves to be more lively," said Faramir, glancing at Feavair.
She did not respond, but looked away.
When he had left the Hobbits and Feavair sat down in silence. The two men guarding, who were revealed to be; Mablung and Damrod, stood speaking in low voices to each other. Feavair noticed that they were speaking in Elvish. That meant they had to be Dúnedain of the South. When asked they spoke that they had come to ambush the Men of Harad. The Southrons were now in league with the Enemy, and theirs hosts were marching to swell the hosts of the Dark Tower. Damrod claimed that they would not pass the road above while Faramir was Captain.
There was silence again for a time after their conversation. Feavair saw Sam move over to crouch by the edge of the fern-brake peering out below. Judging by the sounds she knew there had to be a lot of Men moving about around their hiding place. She had no desire to have a better look, for she did not fully trust Men, and she didn't like being around so many of them. Right as Sam came crawling back to them, she suddenly felt extremely tired. She decided she might as well get her strength back. She lay down and dozed off the elvish way close to the hobbits.
Feavair slowly awakened to the slightly distant sound of sword clashing upon sword and Men yelling and screaming. Men against Men, it was fighting, and it was not pleasant to listen to. She closed her eyes and attempted to shut out the sounds. She knew Frodo and Sam were awake and looking down at the battle.
For a long while the battle raged, but when it ended, Sam and Frodo came crawling back. At one point in the battle, Feavair had heard a great trumpeting and bellowing sound of some large creature that she could not recognize.
"An Oliphaunt it was!" exclaimed Sam, excitement glistening in his eyes. "Amazing! But yet no one at home shall believe my tale… oh well! If that is over, I shall have a bit more sleep.
"The Captain shall return, if he is unhurt that is. Sleep while you may, but shall be pursued when news of our deed reaches the Enemy," replied Mablung.
Feavair sighed and lay on her back staring at the sky. Her mind drifted to Mordor, and to the one who had felt her presence. "I know you are here," was what she had heard in her head.
Such a terrible and cold voice it was that just thinking of it made her shiver. If the Dark Lord could feel her presence, surely he would be able to find them? Her walking around with Frodo was probably as a beacon for Him in Barad-Dûr. Worry swam over her at these thoughts, and the fact that she might be endangering Frodo's mission. Should she separate from him and Sam? Go on ahead? No, she could not do that. She had to first make sure they would actually reach Orodruin, or everything would be in vain. Besides, something inside told her to stay with Frodo, as if she had yet to aid him in something of great importance.
She shook off these thoughts finally, and returned to the comfort of sleep. Unfortunately, her dreams were plagued with visions of terrible things that might happen to them in the future, as well as visions of her past. Her past with Legolas. And he was the 'last' person she needed to be thinking of.
For some sleep was a refuge in the mists of troubles, for Feavair sleep had never come easy to her, and especially not in the last couple of days.
She pretended to be a sleep when Faramir and the other men returned. Just their presences made a chill run down her spine and she was thorn by the desires to run away and lash out. Nevertheless, she stayed still and listened to their quiet talking. She knew the Captain was not happy with the brief explanation Frodo and Sam had given them, and gray clouds of doubts were in his eyes as he stared at the two hobbits. Now and then, his gaze turned to her and each time he reminded her more of Boromir.
Slowly Frodo and Sam, who had been sleeping, awoke and yawned. They never stopped to amaze her, here they were in the middle of the Dark Lands with the Enemy almost breathing down their necks and they were sleeping as if they were in a field of flowers.
"I was wondering" Faramir said suddenly and Sam and Frodo turned their heads in his direction. "It was the coming of the Halflings that Isildur's Bane should waken….or so I would interpret the words" he said."And if you are indeed the Halflings then you must have what Boromir rode so swiftly to participate in a Council for and there he saw it"
Frodo did not answer and he stiffened nervously. " I wish to learn more for if it was great matter to Boromir then it was great matter to me"
Feavair felt her heart jolt in her chest as she thought about the darkness that had almost consumed Boromir, the very same darkness that rested in the Ring Frodo had around his neck.
"You choose to hid it." Faramir said and his voice was low and tight.
"I choose not for it does not belong to me, or to no mortal, though if any with right could claim it had be Aragorn son of Arathorn who lead our Company from Moria to Rauros"
"Why not Boromir, prince of the City that sons of Elendil founded?"
"Because Aragorn is descended in direct linage, father to father from Isildur Elendil`s son him self" Sam said feeling a need to prove that he to knew history.
"Boromir was satisfied with that claim and if he was here he would answer all your questions" said Frodo quickly " I came on an errand to this country that was appointed from Elrond of Imladris himself. It is not for me to reveal to any outside of the Company what we are doing here, yet those who claim to oppose the Enemy would not want to hinder it"
Feavair rose slowly and suddenly the conversation stopped and everybody stared at her. Faramir`s eyes darkened and she quickly hid her self in her cloak and said slowly.
"What are you quarreling about?"
"The halfing, thinks that we should mind our own business, let you be and go back home" Faramir answered "and when Boromir comes he will answer all my questions, tell me were you a friend of Boromir?" his eyes were at Feavair but he was asking Frodo the question.
Frodo hesitated and caught the look of Sam's eyes, they had both seen Boromir's assault before they fled.
She had become increasingly angry at this conversation. She could sense that Frodo and Sam were growing unsure were this conversation was leading, and she to was wondering what the reason for all the questions was.
"Boromir was a strong member of our Company" said Frodo slowly testing each word "and yes he was a friend"
"So you would grief if he died" Faramir asked and Frodo looked at Sam once more, but his friend could not help him.
"Dead, is Boromir dead?" he asked suddenly and before Faramir could answer Feavair spoke.
"No, he is just fine"
They all looked at her with surprise written clearly in their eyes. Faramir`s eyes darkened once more and he stared at her long and hard.
"Eleven days ago I heard the blowing of his horn and then I feared the worst" he took a deep breath. "Boromir is my brother and I am greatly concerned for him" Feavair caught Frodo's eyes as he turned to her seeking some kind of council, she could not give him.
If Faramir was Boromir's brother that would explain the likeness, she saw in their eyes. Faramir sighed deeply ripping her out of her thoughts and Frodo shifted nervously and said
"If it was eleven days ago, that would indeed be the day of our parting and as I know the others are also fine" he turned to Feavair and she nodded slowly.
"I can not explain it" Faramir said slowly, mostly to his self and now he removed his eyes from Feavair and stared at the others. " But I have no longer any doubt. There is something strange about all of you. Who would have thought and elf maid and two hafling in this darkened land" now he laughed heartily, before he spoke again.
"I should now take you back to Minas Tirith to answer to Denethor and my life will justly be forfeit if I now chose ill for my city. We must move without more delay" Then he leaped to his feet and issued some orders, and the men broke up in small groups and disappeared in the shadows of the rocks and trees. Soon only Mablung and Damrod remained.
"Now…all you will come with me and my guards" Faramir said. "You can't travel on the road southward if that was your plans. I am weary, and guesses so are you. We will go no to a secret place and rest. Tomorrow I will decided what is best for me to do with you"
They started to walk, and Feavair, Frodo and Sam wondered if he was truly a friend, or an enemy they had stumbled over.
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