You Could Have Caught Me

By:

LiL Pippin Padfoot

Disclaimer: I HATE FIRE! I made sure that Beregond is in here, since he is neglected in the movie.

Chapter 26

A Father/Son Barbeque

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I had waited up all night, because of Faramir, and the fact that I couldn't sleep.

Denethor wasn't helping either.

He had ordered a bed to be made and Faramir to be laid in it, and he wanted to be left alone with him.

Well, like I was going to let that happen.

I sat outside the closed doorway the entire time.

People saw me, and ignored me.

So, I took some time to reflect on the things that had happened.

All the way back to falling down the stairs, up till now. I had really done a lot.

By Morning, there was talk in the hallways. That Rohan was not coming. That Minas Tirith was surrounded, and without a leader, and that we were all doomed.

Then there was the second rumor that Faramir was dying.

Bergil found me, and with tears asked me if it was true.

"It what true?" I asked

"That the Lord Faramir is dying?"

"What? He is not. Tell your father and everyone else, he'll be fine."

Bergil nodded his head and left, though I could tell he didn't believe me. I began to truly think that all hope had left these lands. Well, not all. I had some. But, that was because I knew the ending, well hoped I did.

Pippin, who had been with Faramir and Denethor, came out into the hallway.

"The Lord requests your presence, Lady Anna."

I got up, and walked in.

Faramir looked horrible. I mean that in a nice way.

"He will make it, my Lord." I told him.

"Do not comfort me. I sent forth my last son, unthanked, unloved, into needless peril. And now, he lies here, poisoned and dying. This is the end of the line of Stewards."

A soldier knocked on the door. He told us that the people wanted their leader.

"No," said Denethor "Faramir may still speak before the end, which is near. Follow the Gray Fool, all hope is gone. It does not matter."

He left silently, no doubt to go and tell that the Lord and his son were both dying.

Denethor laid his hand on Faramir's forehead.

"He's burning." I heard Denethor mutter. "Already burning."

"You are released Peregrin son of Paladin! No longer am I needed of your services. When you leave, send for my servants.

Pippin left. Leaving me alone with Denethor. I sensed T-R-O-U-B-L-E, especially since I knew Denethor's next move.

I tried to stop the servants, as they took Faramir away. I followed them, trying to stop them.

"Why won't you stop? He's not dead!" I tried to get them to let go, but shoved me away.

"Why won't you listen to me!" I yelled.

Then I heard a cry of horns, I was already crying for Faramir, but they were now tears of joy.

"Rohan has come!" I said.
"Leave Faramir, and go now and fight along side them!"

But they still would not listen.

I noticed one of the soldiers, Beregond.

"Beregond!" I said

"Put him down! Please! He's not dead! Let him be!"

Beregond turned to me, tears filling his eyes, and then he turned away.

They still took Faramir inside.

They laid him on a pyre.

"No." I said.

Denethor stood before his son.

"No!" I yelled.

I didn't know what I was doing.

I just ran forward, drawing Boromir's knife.

"Don't touch him." I told Denethor.

Denethor looked at the knife.

He gave a grim smile.

"My own son's knife is turning against me." He said. Then he poured oil over himself and Faramir.

"Beregond!" I said "Anyone! He's still alive!"

Then the servant's went to walk into the room with Faramir and Denethor.

Beregond suddenly drew his sword. Stopping them from entering the room.

"If you dare, bring those torches closer to the Captain Faramir, you shall have to go through this blade first."

Two men came toward him.

"Betrayer." They spat at Beregond.

Beregond's sword flashed as it killed them.

"Stay this madness!"

I never thought I would be this happy to see Gandalf.

Denethor pushed me out of the way, and went to Gandalf.

I ran up to Faramir, and tried to wipe some of the oil off, but it wasn't working.

While Gandalf and Denethor argued. I tried to get Faramir to wake up.

If Denethor could just see him awake...

All of a sudden Faramir called out in his dream.

Denethor turned, and grabbed a torch.

I stood still, not knowing what to do.

Denethor stood tall, holding the Palantir and wielding a knife.

I stood between him and Faramir.

Beregond rushed over, joining me.

Before Gandalf or any of us could do anything, Denethor thrusted the torch unto the pyre, and it started a fire.

Beregond, tried to pick up Faramir.

The smoke was swirling around the room, and you barely breathe, for it was so hot, and ashes filled the air.

"Help me!" he said.

I had been standing there, frozen. But I jumped and helped Beregond carry Faramir out.

Once Faramir was outside, I fell to my knees, trying to breathe, and Gandalf closed the door. We heard a blood curdling cry, and then silence.

"And so ends Denethor son of Ecthelion. Take away your comrades that have fallen, and we shall take Faramir, now the Steward of Gondor, where he can rest and sleep in peace, or die if it's his fate."

I followed them to the Houses of Healing. And stayed outside where Faramir was, because truthfully, I had no where to go. Pippin stayed with me.

Gandalf turned to us and said "We must meet who have come, Pippin come with me." He turned, and then stopped. "You too, Anna."

So I got up and followed them.

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Earlier

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Just before Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Elladan, Elrohir, and the Dùnedain left for the Paths of the Dead, they had a little talk by the Campfire...

"I wonder," said Gimli "Where rather anyone else is in as much danger as we are, or in more."

They thought about this.

"Merry is with us, but he is going with Rohan." Said Aragorn

"Pippin will be safe with Gandalf, but I wonder about Anna." Said Legolas

"Anna?" asked a few people

They explained who Anna was and then they asked why do you worry about her?

"She can get herself into trouble without realizing it. Or without even thinking about it. And with her in Minas Tirith, a city surrounded by enemies, I am quite sure she did what she did at Helm's Deep.

Eowyn, who was walking by heard this.

"What did she do at Helm's Deep?" she asked

"You do not know?" asked Aragorn "She dressed like a soldier and fought."

"Really?" said Eowyn, who then walked away.

"I bet the lass, is just as alive and kicking as we found her." Said Gimli

"I bet she'll get herself hurt." Said Legolas

"I don't want to bet that she's dead." Said Aragorn "But I'll bet she has made quite a few enemies."

So they had a bet. Gimli bet all his pipe weed, Legolas bet his Lembas, and Aragorn bet his pipe.

I wonder who's going to win.

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As we walked to the gates, I was happy to see everyone there.

I think that Aragorn and Legolas's mouths fell open when I appeared.

They immediately walked up to me, ignoring Gandalf.

Pippin saw Merry, and ran to him.

Gandalf yelled at all of us, to say our hellos later that we had a war to plan.

So we walked back into the city to hold a meeting.