Frodo and Valia's blindfolds were removed, and they stood before the captain of the guard once more.
"My men tell me that you are Orc spies," he said. Valia and Frodo said nothing. "If you are not spies, speak."
"We are hobbits of the Shire," Frodo said finally. "Frodo Baggins is my name, and this is Valia."
The captain glanced at her. "I assume her last name is also Baggins."
Valia blushed. "Not yet," she said quietly.
"I see, and where is your skulking friend? That gangrel creature. He had an ill-favored look." The captain watched them carefully.
Frodo hesitated. "There was no other. We set out from Rivendell with eight companions." He paused. "One…we lost in Moria. Three were my kin. A dwarf there was also and an elf and two men: Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and Boromir of Gondor."
The captain seemed to hesitate for a moment, his eyes sad. "You were a friend of Boromir's?"
Frodo and Valia glanced at each other. "Yes…for our part," Frodo replied slowly.
"It would grieve you then to learn that he is dead?"
"Dead?" Valia cried. "How? When?"
"As one of his companions, I had hoped you would tell me." The captain sighed. "He was my brother."
Valia and Frodo sat closed together between a few barrels in the storage room where they were held. He wrapped his arms around her when she buried her face in his shoulder.
"I'm frightened," she whispered. "Why is he keeping us here?"
"I don't know." He gently kissed her forehead. "We'll be all right." He gazed into her eyes and smiled softly. "I'm sorry we fought earlier."
She smiled too then took his hand in hers, entwining their fingers. "As am I," she whispered.
They both looked up at footsteps. Faramir stepped down into the cellar then pointed to Frodo. "You. Come with me."
Without a word, Frodo followed. He glanced back at Valia and smiled reassuringly before disappearing above the cellar.
Valia woke when Frodo returned, and he told her of what had happened.
"Smeagol might not trust us after this," she whispered. "They never should have been so cruel to him." She bit her lip nervously.
"But we need him to guide us," he said. "How can we—"
He stopped when footsteps approached, and Faramir entered the cellar with his sword drawn. Before she could truly understand what had happened, Faramir had her against the wall with the sword at her throat while two men held Frodo. Valia gazed fearfully into Faramir's eyes as the cold metal bit into her skin.
"Valia!" Frodo pulled against the men that held him.
"I'm all right," she assured him. "What is it you want from me?" she whispered to Faramir.
"You are a traitor, daughter of Sauron," Faramir hissed while pressing the sword further into her throat.
She bit her lip to keep from crying out. "Indeed, Sauron is my father, if you can call a man who violates your mother a father."
Faramir didn't comment but turned to Frodo instead, using the tip of his sword to pull the chain from around Frodo's neck even as he struggled.
"The Ring of Power within my grasp," Faramir murmured. "A chanced for Faramir, captain of Gondor, to show his quality."
"No," Frodo begged. "No, you don't understand. We're going to destroy it. Only then can we defeat Sauron."
"Don't you understand?" Valia was held by two others as she moved to stand beside Frodo. "You can't use it!"
A guard entered. "Osgiliath is under attack. They call for reinforcements."
"Please, help us," Valia begged. "Let us go."
"Prepare to leave," Faramir ordered. "The Ring will go to Gondor."