Disclaimer: To quote a famous friend - If you recognize the place or character, I don't own it.

Boromir son of Denethor.

To his father Boromir was Gondor's salvation. All her troubles were put on his shoulders in high hopes that he would make them disappear. Sent with three of Minas Tirith's strongest troops, Boromir was told to clear Osgiliath of the raiding Orcs.

The troops rode back into the city gates a week past, with more than a third of them fallen in the battles. Families were heartbroken with news of their husbands, sons and brothers. Among the tears, despair and agony, dear Denethor believed all would be well with his three-day celebration of victory at his son's hand...regardless of the three hundred other men who fought.

It was another day the people of the city wept for those lost.

It was another day Faramir, five years younger brother to Boromir was snubbed by his father.

It was another day Boromir lost many valiant, brave, and good friends.

It was another day Denethor spent the city's tax money on foolish meaningless celebration.

It was another day Denethor sent Boromir on a mission to bring further glory upon his house...

Six years earlier

They all watched in horrified silence as the goblins ran in a dark cloud over the moonlit fields, burning and ravaging the long grass as they descended.

They would never conquer this fortress however. The Castle of Mantis was enchanted, gifted with the magic of the valor. This was the last standing house in all of Mellas. Everywhere else had been burnt to the ground. But this fortress would survive. Princess Sephora, Chief Magistrate, Second in Command of Mantis' defense, sent a wave of lightning, killing the first wave of goblins.

'By the valor, they are getting too strong' one of the soldiers shouted as he shot another arrow into the mass, 'Mantis will fall!' His forecasting threw a wave of anger and fear through the men.

'Salamin! I will not hear another word from you!' Prince Elid shouted over the deafening noise of the creatures who neared the outer walls of the castle. He turned to look at all the soldiers who watched him for his next command. 'Mantis will not fall! We will stand tall and proud. We will be rid of these creatures once and for all. I will NOT give up and NEITHER will you! We are men for Elebreth's sake! I will hear no more of goblins conquering us!' He paused as he waited for his words to sink in before he repeated 'Mantis will NOT fall!' in a voice that sent pride, excitement and strength into their bones.

They were here to fight and fight they would.

Sephora ran from her place at the watchtower into the stone building. She did not know which was worse. The fact that she knew Mantis would not survive this onslaught or that she was not strong enough to fight it off. Her age and lack of experience prevented her from reaching her potential. She knew how weakened she became after that lighting spell. She was nothing compared to her mother.

She continued to run down the torch lit halls as she heard the goblins come close enough for sword combat. She muttered a soft prayer in vain; Mantis would fall.

She opened the large wooden doors to her father's chambers to the sound of his deep coughing. Picking up her skirts she hastened to his bedside. His face was ashen and his chest still heaving as the coughs racked his body.

'Dada,' she whispered as she put a hand on his forehead sending a light glow into his body, watching as the coughs ceased.

'My time has come, love,' he whispered, looking at her through tired, red, teary eyes.

'No,' she breathed out. Sephora had not foreseen this...how could this escape her! 'Dada, everything will be fine. Do not worry, here.' She reached out to lay the same hand on his forehead ready for another energy transfer when he caught softly it midair.

'Nay.' He blinked at the ceiling a few times before turning his face back to her, 'Your mother is calling for me, it is time.'

Her pale face surrounded by raven waves turned red with anger. He watched as she tried to keep her lips together but failed as she spit out in anger, 'Who is she to take you from us! She left us dada! She is the reason you are in this bed in the first place!' Her voice softened as she held his hand tighter. 'You must not leave. Not now, please, not when I need you most.' Her eyes glistened with tears that she refused.

Lord Mellad's pale face fell tenderly, 'My love, she is your mother. You do not need me anymore. Go to your brother. He needs your help.'

'Elid! Oh dada, please we are barely into adulthood! We both need you, please let me help you.'

'Tell him he is a strong man who will make a fine king. You will both be happy. Please do not weep for me. I will always be here. You know how to reach the underworld.'

'Dada,' she finally gave into the tears as the sobs surfaced, 'My dada, it is not the same.'

'I love you both.'

'Dada, do not go!' Her last plea was futile for as she finished her sentence, she watched as his life left his eyes, his grasp on her hand limp. She felt her heart stop its maddening pace as her throat constricted and burned. She could not utter a word.

'Dada...' she thought helplessly. Her mind went blank. She did not know how long she sat on the edge of her father's bed, how long she stared into his lifeless eyes as her fists balled up into fists at her sides. But when she heard a loud cry by one of the goblin's, a fire ignited in her. Her eyes blazed red with the intensity. She leaned over her father's body as she softly kissed his forehead in a silent goodbye.

'I will cry for you later dada, I will grieve for you later.'

Princess Sephora stepped onto the battlements of her castle and stared at the massacre in astonishment...so little time...so many bodies...Mantis would fall.

She looked around quickly for her twin brother and saw him trying to fend off a circling pack of goblins. She swallowed softly as she pulled out her twin blades off her back and ran, her hatred from these monsters growing with every step.

She sliced through the back of the first goblin, from one shoulder to the other waist and watched as his body fell in two pieces. She caught Elid's eye and she could see the most potent fear in him and it drew her anger up even more. She let out an anguished cry as she slaughtered the three goblin's surrounding her brother.

She turned around and quickly counted about fifty or so men left standing and double that amount of goblins. Racing towards them, she let her rage fuel her as she hacked everything detestable in her sight. She was a burning flame, killing everything in her path. She would not calm until she had defeated every goblin in the world, she silently promised herself as she sliced the arms off another one. For the simple sick amusement, she was not satiated with this creature until she had hacked it to several more pieces ending with its head rolling away on the ground.

The surrounding goblins having seen this woman so easily kill so many of their own turned and ran out the gates. But Sephora was the hunter now. She would not rest until all of these horrid creatures were in pieces. She ran after them easily matching and exceeding their own speed. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a goblin pick up a crossbow and slice an arrow through the air in the direction of the castle before she darted towards it and decapitated it.

Sephora reentered the city gates, in a daze, not knowing how much time had passed.

A small boy ran in her direction from one of the huts where she noticed many of her soldiers. 'Your majesty! It is the prince! Come quick!'

Running after the boy she was led into a small hut where her brother was lying on the bed. With a soft cry she ran to his bedside. 'My Elid, what has happened?'

'The goblin you saw shooting an arrow...it hit the prince.' A solder behind her said softly, sounding as if he would break into tears.

Her eyes darted over his ashen face and body as she looked for a wound. Her heart leapt into her throat as she saw the small hole in his chest plate over his heart. Her eyes flew back to his face as her hand automatically flew to his head and she passed her energy into him. Nothing happened; there was no slight tingle in her hand, no glow, and his face did not color. She tried again, a look of absolute confusion on her face. Why is nothing happening? She tried concentrating harder, but still there was nothing.

Her eyes burned again, only this time with complete pain.

She had wasted her magic on those damned goblins! She had nothing left to save her brother.

Her lungs refused to allow any air as she watched him try to breathe. She laid her hand on his heart and tried to heal the wound directly this time, but it was in vain. Sephora watched silently and helplessly as her dear brother, her twin, her best friend, mentor and guide breathed his final breath.

First her father and now her brother.

She stood up soundlessly, whispering a soft prayer to the only two only King's of her life as she kissed his forehead. Unparalleled pain pulsing through her empty heart, Sephora walked out of the straw hut, jumped on a horse and rode out of the city gates never to return again.

Mantis had fallen.