The Shadow Falls

"What was all that about?" Demi asked.

"I do not know why he left, but it must be urgent. Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards!" Pippin said, descending down the stairs.

"Do we follow?" Demi asked.

"I think for you, dear Vaira, bed rest is in order. In your condition you have done far too much." Boromir said, leading her down the hall and to a door similar to the one that closed off Pippin and Gandalf's room. "Here you will stay, for how long I do not know."

"Thanks, but really, I'm fine." Demi said, walking into the room.

"Demi, please…" Boromir said.

"Demi? You've never called me that before." Demi said, raising her eyebrows.

"Well… you are a friend, and I have no mind for titles. It is your name, is it not?" he asked.

"Well, yes, one of, but, I don't know, it just seems out of character. I don't mind though." She said, her lips breaking into a smile.

"Very well, come now, I will have a servant bring you a clean gown and food. Then you must promise me that you take rest." Boromir said, putting his arm around Demi's shoulders and softly moving her towards the bed.

"Ok, ok, you win, this time…" Demi said, smirking. "It's been a while since I've had a decent meal, and I will not complain."

Boromir smiled and left her in her room to retrieve the things he promised her.

Demi flapped down on her bed and before she knew it she was sound asleep.

-


Pippin, after speaking with Beregond, son of Baranor, of the stewards guard, he found Shadowfax well housed and cared for, but the only horse in the fair stable, bringing the man with him.

"Good Morning!" Pippin said as he approached the snow white steed. Shadowfax whinnied, threw his head back and stamped his foot. "Gandalf will come when he can, but at the moment he has things to see to. I have been sent to see that you are being looked after well."

Beregond was allowed close enough too stroke the majestic horse's neck.

"He is a fine steed, and looks as though he were preparing to race. Strong and proud, but where is his harness? It should be fair and rich." Beregond said.

"There is none that would do him justice and he will have none. Only with his consent will he bear you, but nothing will tame him if he does not allow you to ride him. Goodbye Shadowfax, war is coming. Have patience til then." Pippin said, taking his leave as he and Beregond went to find nourishment.

-


"Demi? Demi?" Boromir whispered as he entered her room bearing a tray of food. The sunlight flowed into the room and across her face, her dark hair sparkling in the light. "Just put it down where you can." He said to the servant that bore a beautiful rich red gown for Demi. With it was a pair of ruby slippers and a gold circlet that looked like several roses had turned to gold and was bound together by some sort of magic, each bearing a ruby in their centre.

Demi stirred and sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Boromir? I must have fallen asleep. I'm pretty tired from the journey." She said, smiling as he placed the tray on the table beside the large four-poster bed "Thank you."

"It is no trouble. Anything for a friend. You may leave us now Pelolél." Boromir said. The servant girl with him bowed lightly and smiled, then turned and left them.

"Eat up, and then you must change. If you are not too tired then I want to show you around the city." Boromir said.

"I'd like that, very much, after all the tales you have told." Demi said, taking a bite from a chicken drumstick.

She ate quickly, and then Boromir left as she changed, fixed her hair, leaving it out and wavy and put on the circlet. She then opened the door, to find Boromir standing before her, his mouth agape.

"Very funny." She said. "Do you think the circlet is too much?"

"Not at all." He said smirking. The outfit suited her well.

"Well, are we going or not?" Demi asked, walking down the hall, Boromir after her.

The two strode through the many levels of the great white city, speaking mainly of fond memories of their childhoods.

"…And I can remember Faramir when he brought father's horse back to the stables. He was battered and bruised something shocking. But who else could have been there when he returned the horse than father? He was red with fury…I've never seen Faramir run that fast in his life!" Boromir said laughing joyously. Demi joined in.

"That does seem pretty bad!" she said. "But why did he steal it in the first place, especially that late at night?"

"Oh…that was because he was visiting a 'friend'. Her name was Thélithil. She was the daughter of some lord who was visiting for some reason or another, I honestly can't remember, but they were smitten with each other." Boromir said.

"So…who was your first love?" Demi asked the warrior.

He pondered for a moment and at last spoke.

"I never really had one. Sure there were some that I fancied, but…I do not know, I was more preoccupied with saving the kingdom then finding love." Boromir answered, as close to the mark as he could, but his eyes showed otherwise.

"That's a shame." Demi said. "How could any woman resist you." She added playfully.

"I'm sure I will find her some day." Boromir said, looking Demi in the eyes. When he came back down to earth he asked her, "Have you ever loved, I mean… other than Rúmil?"

"There was one…but its nothing really." She said blushing.

"Really?" Boromir asked, unconvinced.

"Ok, his name is Billie Joe Armstrong and he plays in a band called Green Day. I've never actually met him, but he's rather famous back home. He seems like a great guy, but it was nothing more than a crush…an infatuation."

"How can you care for someone you have never met?"

"I don't know." Demi said. "But I've learnt a lot since then."


Before sunset, men of Lossarnach came to Minas Tirith in aid for the coming battle. Boromir and demi met them at the first gate to the city.

"My Lord Forlong. Thank you for answering the call. How many have you brought hither with you?" Boromir asked a fat man upon a great brown steed. He seemed to be of high lineage to Demi.

"Too few and ten times less than I thought possible, but alas! Two hundred fine men at the ready Lord Boromir." Forlong said.

"Every little is a gain, thank you friend." Boromir said.

And so forth came many more men to help Minas Tirith and Gondor in the dark hour. Men from Ringló Vale led by the son of their lord, Dervorin, who brought with him three hundred good men. From Morthond or Blackroot Vale came Duinhir and his two sons Duilin and Derufin. With them five hundred men skilled with a bow. From Anfalas men of the likes of hunters and herdsmen came, poorly equipped. In from Lamedon came a few hill men, captain less but ready to fight under another. From Ethir came fisher-folk barely over a hundred. From Hirluin came three hundred men dressed in green.

The last company to ride forth into the city was a company of seven hundred able men from Dol Amroth under the ruling of their Prince Imrahil all upon grey steeds, holding their banner of a silver swan high in the air. They were all proud tall men with dark hair and they sang in tune as they marched completing those of Gondor to fight with a total of three thousand strong. But that was not enough.

All grew silent and then a shadow fell upon the white city. Demi cast her eyes skyward only to see the sky become grey as though there was smoke covering it all.

"What is that?" she asked Boromir.

"I know not, but it not a good omen." He replied as he set about to house all three thousand men and ushered Demi back to her room.


Demi sat on her bed, her head in her hands. She was afraid and confused. She knew how real it all was, but now it was sinking in. She didn't know how long she had sat there, contemplating things, but soon she was once again over come by sleep and she fell onto the bad on her back, her tear pendent firmly wrapped in her hand, glowing a light orange.


AE: Hiya, yes, I have actually finished another chapter and have gotten of my arse and posted it. Go me! Yeah… Anyways, thank for any reviews, I'm really grateful, but that doesn't mean you can stop with them!

Elessar Evenstar: Yeah, I think he's pretty cool too. Thank you very much. Here's your update!

southerntiger: I'm glad you like this. Thanks very much for reading this and I hope you enjoy the future chapters!