Chapter 28

Aragorn entered the Houses of Healing and spoke to the nurse. He told her that that day, he was not king. He was there this day, to heal. Aragorn tended to Eowyn first and it was she that woke that day.

He left her side and let her brother be with her. He entered a small healing room where Elizabeth and her bandaged arm lay. She was breathing softly, but her wound still bled. Haldir sat next to her, holding her healthy arm in his hand and praying to the Valar that they would allow her to live. He doubted that any soldier would die from an arm wound, but this scenario was different. For one thing, Elizabeth was no soldier. She was a child. Another thing was, she hadn't fought any old orc. She'd fought the Witch King of Angmar.

With a sigh,

You turn away

With a deepening heart

No more words to say

Haldir could see the worry on Aragorn's face, but he remained silent. Aragorn sent for some Kingsfoil weed from the indoor garden that had lain on one of the higher levels. He boiled the weed in hot water and dipped a cloth it in. The wound was not deep enough so that he could simply put a leaf of the Kingsfoil weed in to let the healing properties do their work.

The weed had to be boiled. Aragorn dipped the cloth in for a second time and pressed it over the wound. Haldir brushed a strand of hair away fromElizabeth's pale face.

You will find

That the world has changed

Forever

Elizabeth hissed in her sleep and tried to pull away from Aragorn, but the Ranger of the North held her firm. He cleaned her wound and rebandaged it before calling the nurse for the herbs necessary to make a sleeping mixture. During the entire process, Haldir simply held Elizabeth's unharmed arm hoping and praying that Aragorn's work would not go to waste.

And the trees are now

Turning from green to gold

And the sun is now fading

Once the sleeping mixture had been properly created, Aragorn gently poured it down Elizabeth's throat and left her in her room to rest. After he left, Gandalf entered the room to keep watch over her along with Haldir. Gandalf put a reassuring hand on Haldir's shoulder before seating himself in the chair on the other side of the room. Now all that was left was to wait out the long recovery.

I wish I could hold you

Closer

Elizabeth opened her eyes. The morning sun was shining on her face and she felt perfectly warm. She felt strangely refreshed also. But there was still that dream that she'd just finished dreaming.

She looked around the room and saw Gandalf sitting in a chair at the foot of her bed.

"Pippin's found Merry." She whispered. Gandalf smiled and nodded.

"Yes, Haldir brought them in late last night." Gandalf said softly. He stood to his feet and walked a few steps to Elizabeth's bedside.

He lifted her out from beneath her blankets and let her stand on her own two feet. Gandalf took Elizabeth by the hand and led her to the window.

"Come," Gandalf said. "See what has occurred while you were sleeping."

Elizabeth looked out the window and saw that the soldiers that were well enough were outside the city, burning the orc bodies and taking the bodies of their fallen fellow soldiers back to the city to be buried.

"We have decided to ride out with our remaining soldiers." Gandalf announced quietly. "Will you ride with us or remain?"

Elizabeth held up her arm. "Can I?"

"It has healed significantly since you last looked upon it." Gandalf said. "You are well enough to ride with us."

Elizabeth smiled, and then frowned. She looked as if there was something she was trying to figure out.

"What is it, Elizabeth?" Gandalf asked, slightly worried. Elizabeth's frown disappeared and was replaced with a pout.

"I'm hungry."

Gandalf chuckled. "Of course you are. Come, dinner will be served soon."

Gandalf took Elizabeth's hand once more and led her this time, towards the Dining hall. Denethor had strangely eaten so near to his throne as if he were about to lose it. But there was a dining hall in the castle of Minas Tirith.

Elizabeth squeezed her hand away from Gandalf when something caught her eye. She didn't look back at Gandalf as she went to investigate her findings.

She pushed the large door open silently and entered the dark room. Only one other person was in there besides her. She could tell by his clothing who it was. Hiding herself in the shadows as she crept closer, Elizabeth watched Aragorn as he stared into the Palantir.

Elizabethwatched quietly, listening to Sauron's evil words. And then, she was as shocked as Aragorn was, to see Arwen in the seeing stone. She looked sick, but how was that possible? Elves didn't get sick. At least, that's what Elizabeth had been told. Maybe someone had broken her heart.Elizabeth thought that Arwen had given her heart to Aragorn, but she wasn't quite sure. No, Arwen's heart wasn't broken. It couldn't be.

Aragorn suddenly flung the Palantir away and Arwen's necklace came crashing to the floor from his neck. It shattered immediately, the fine stone breaking its once strong form. Elizabeth knew she had to help him. That was Arwen's necklace and she'd given it to Aragorn for a reason. How Elizabeth knew that the necklace was Arwen's was beyond her, but she just knew it was important to Aragorn.

'Put your hand over the broken necklace, Elizabeth' A voice whispered in her mind.

'Keshavan?' Elizabeth asked in her mind.

'I haven't much time to speak, now hurry, child.' The exiled spirit said. 'Put your hand over the broken necklace and think about it becoming one once more. Anytime something breaks, do the same thing, understood?'

'Yes sir! When will you talk to me again Keshavan?'

'Not for a very long time. Stay with the wizard. He will protect you.' Keshavan told her. His voice faded away with the last word.

Elizabeth took a step forward into the light of the room and looked up at Aragorn. He was even more shocked to find her in the same room that he was in. Without any words, Elizabeth swiftly sat down on the marble floor and put her hand over the area where most of the scattered pieces of the necklace where. Then she concentrated; she concentrated on the broken pieces coming together and forming a whole necklace once more.

When she opened her eyes, she saw the necklace glowing beneath her hand and the scattered pieces around her being drawn towards it. Then the light faded. Elizabeth stood up and held out her hand to Aragorn, who was still staring at her, shocked. He glanced down at her hand, then back at her quickly before he took the repaired necklace that was offered to him.

After binding it around his neck, he embraced Elizabeth tightly.

"Hannon le, Elizabeth, hannon le." Aragorn said.

Elizabeth guessed that his words meant 'thank you'. She glanced at the door to see a flash of white robes leaving. She knew Gandalf had seen, but she had no idea what his reaction would be.

"I can help you win, Aragorn," she whispered. She could almost feel Aragorn smiling.

"I know you can, Elizabeth, I know."

Gandalf looked down from a conversation with Eomer when he saw a small person climb onto the chair next to him. As he had first thought, the small person was Elizabeth. Elizabeth ate quickly for some strange reason, as if she had to catch up with those that had started eating before she had. Anyway, by the time she was finished, Gandalf was finishedalso.

He told her that she should probably rest for the upcoming battle and that he'd escort her to her room. As they walked along the hallway that was just outside of their room, Elizabeth spotted someone, no two people standing in a small garden. To her surprise, it was Eowyn and Faramir. She walked away from the middle of the hallway and watched the two from the balcony. Gandalf came to stand next to her.

"Enjoying the view?" he asked softly, in a teasing sort of way. He didn't actually think that Elizabeth would be interested in the romantic affairs of the Men of Middle Earth, but perhaps something had sparked her interest after all.

Elizabeth didn't answer. She simply left the balcony and entered the room, leaving the door open so that Gandalf could enter after her.

"Elizabeth? Are you all right?" Gandalf asked, once he'd entered the room and shut the door behind him.

Elizabeth walked out onto the balcony of their room and took a deep breath of fresh air.

"They're gonna get married." She said softly, as Gandalf came to stand behind her in the doorway that connected the balcony to the room.

"I believe they are," Gandalf agreed, smiling softly. "How did you know?"

Elizabeth shrugged, her back still turned away from Gandalf. "I dunno. I just did, that's all."

Gandalf exhaled softly and came to stand next to Elizabeth on the balcony. He enjoyed the silence of temporary peace on the balcony.

"Gandalf, there's something you should know about." Elizabeth said, breaking the silence. She looked over at the wizard and found him watching her intently with just the slightest hint of worry in his features.

"Oh?" Gandalf asked, in a somewhat leisurely manner.

"The reason I've been able to do all these weird things lately is because of my spirit guide. His name's Keshavan and he's the prince of the faeries." Elizabeth blurted out.

"Elizabeth—" Gandalf started but was cut off.

"He's not bad or anything. He's really nice and funny. But he had to go away because he saved a mortal's life and he wasn't s'posed to do that." Elizabeth said quickly, hoping that Gandalf wouldn't be mad. "So he's gone now and you don't hafta worry 'bout me."

"Elizabeth, my dear, I already know about Keshavan. I have met him before." Gandalf said softly, but clearly.

"You have?" Elizabeth asked. Gandalf nodded.

"Remember when the Witch King tried to hurt me?" Gandalf asked. "You were thrown against the wall and my magic could not wake you."

Elizabeth nodded, her eyes wide with wonder and amazement. She acted like a little toddler being told a fantastic story.

"Your 'spirit guide', as you call him, appeared before me in his spirit form. He healed you – although it was a very hard process – and in return he helped you restore my staff." Gandalf said. "But until now, I was under the assumption that Prince Keshavan was with you at all times. What happened?"

"Well, we saw the Witch King hurting King Théoden and Eowyn and so I went flying off with Keshavan's help and I stabbed the Witch King in his side and then he hit me with his sword." Elizabeth said. She was getting quite involved with her story. She jumped around, acting out every word she spoke. "And then, this is my favorite part, then, Merry stabbed the Witch King from behind and he fell backwards cuz it burnt him.

"And then the Witch King was like "Fool, no man can kill me" and Eowyn took off her helmet and was like "I am no man" and then she put her sword in the Witch King's face – which I think is really gross – and the Witch King exploded!" Elizabeth finished with a bright smile on her face. Gandalf laughed openly at her performance and clapped. But then, Elizabeth's smile faded.

"And then, I saw nothing but black and Keshavan talked to me. He told me that cuz he'd saved a mortal that was destined to die in that battle, he was exiled from being my guide. He snuck into my head just now when I helped Aragorn, but he said he wouldn't see me for a very long time." Elizabeth said. "And now I hafta learn all my powers by myself."

"Well," Gandalf said. "I believe I can assist you with your powers, my dear. But there's one thing that I can only tell you to do. Actually doingwhat I am about to suggestis totally your choice."

"What is it?" Elizabeth asked.

"Sleep." Gandalf answered. "You need rest and a lot of it if you are coming with us tomorrow morning."

He helped her onto the large bed that was many sizes too large for her. She let out a yawn as he tucked her into bed.

"But I'm not – yawn – tired." She murmured, her eyes practically dropping like heavy rocks.

Gandalf just chuckled and watched as she finally gave into her fatigue. His smile faded once she was asleep and he left the room to speak with Aragorn.

Elizabeth sat in front of Gandalf on Shadowfax. She glanced around and found Merry behind Eomer and Pippin behind Théoden. Apparently, Théoden's wounds had healed quickly. They were riding to the Black Gates of Mordor and though no one had told Elizabeth, they were most likely riding to their deaths. She looked up at Gandalf.

"How long 'til we get there?" she asked.

"At least two hours." The wizard answered gravely. "So take rest if you can."

Without another word, Elizabeth settled down and closed her eyes. She was a little tired, but sleep claimed her quickly anyways.

'Elizabeth,'

'What? Who's there?' Elizabeth asked.

'It's Keshavan.'

'Keshavan! It's been so long since you visited me. I haven't talked to you for a wholeday!'

'See? I told you I wouldn't see you for a long time. But I'm not here for pleasantries. Listen carefully, I'm going to show you what you need to do…'

Elizabeth's eyes snapped open as she heard a voice call out. She looked around and finally figured out why they'd stopped riding. The Black Gate was right in front of them.

"Let the Lord of the Black Land come forth!" Aragorn shouted. "Let justice be done upon him!"

Nothing happened. Elizabeth looked around to see if anything else was happening. Wasn't the gate supposed to open when Aragorn shouted? In her dream it had...

Suddenly, as if on cue, the gate began to open. Bit by bit, the heavy, metal gate opened and revealed a rider clad all in black. It stopped a few feet in front of the small group of riders.

The thing, whatever it was, was horrifically ugly. It had no eyes – only a mouth. The mouth was actually extraordinarily large and the teeth were too. Every time the creature spoke of moved its mouth, blood would ooze out of the large cracks surrounding its mouth. Elizabeth wanted to throw up.

"My master, Sauron the Great bids thee welcome." The black rider said. It tilted its head towards the side and gave a smile, allowing more dark blood to edge out of the cracks along its mouth.

Aragorn just looked at the black rider as if it were a practical joke. Legolas narrowed his eyes at the beast and Elizabeth just pitied the horse that it rode.

"Is there any in this rout with authority to treat with me?" the thing asked after a long period of silence.

"We do not come to treat with Sauron, faithless and accursed." Gandalf said, causing the thing to turn its head in the wizard's direction. Elizabeth really hoped that this thing seriously had no eyes at all. It freaked her out already.

The thing bared its teeth at Gandalf. Elizabeth cringed and made a disgusted face.

"Tell your Master this: the armies of Mordor must disband. He is to depart these lands, never to return." Gandalf ordered with authority. Elizabeth felt braver and braver as Gandalf spoke, as though his words alone fueled her.

The thing suddenly let out a laugh/exclamation. Elizabeth frowned and gave a little pout. Why couldn't anything be easy? Just once?

"Old Greybeard," the thing said, remembering the voice. "I have a token I was bidden to show thee."

Elizabeth frowned. What could the thing of Sauron have that Gandalf would want? A helmet from a dead orc? A new staff? A bright pink kitten? No wait, that would be something on Elizabeth's list.

TheMouth or "funny lookin' thing"dug into his robes and brought out a mithril shirt. Elizabeth's eyes widened and her hold on Gandalf's arm tightened. The remaining members of the Fellowship gasped.

"Frodo," Elizabeth and Pippin whispered together.

The thing tossed the mithril to Gandalf and he caught it.

"Frodo!" Pippin exclaimed.

"Silence," Gandalf ordered calmly.

"No!" Merry shouted.

"Silence!" Gandalf repeated. Elizabeth stayed silent though. She remembered this part in the vision Keshavan had shown her. This dirty liar of Sauron's was no better than the Witch King.

"The Halfling was dear to thee, I see." The thing said. "Know that he suffered greatly at the hands of his host."

A short silence was endured and Gimli clenched his teeth and the others bowed their heads in sadness. But Elizabeth did not. Gandalf however, was too busy with sadness to notice that she was not so sad.

Besides, if Sauron had the ring from Frodo, then why were they there, at the Black Gates?

"Who would've thought that one so small could endure so much pain?" the thing continued.

Gandalf slowly let the mithril fall into Elizabeth's hands and he lay a hand on her shoulder, thinking that she was just as sad.

"And he did, Gandalf," the thing assured. "He did."

Elizabeth looked up at Gandalf and noticed he was crying, but trying hard not to. She'd had enough. This thing had made her friends sad and he deserved to get his butt kicked.

"LIAR!" she shouted suddenly. Everyone's eyes were immediately upon her. "YOU STUPID,UGLY LIAR!"

"Oh? And how would a child know of such things?" the thing asked, turning its head towards her.

Ewwwww. It knew she was a child. Then again, it wasn't that hard to figure out with her language use, her voice...the list went on and on.

"I saw it," Elizabeth said proudly. "I have seen Frodo and believe me, he isn't dead! You just got the mithril because he was caught by the spider and your orcs caught him. But he escaped! You're only using that thing to taunt us, you-you-you-YOU THING!"

"Show me these visions you speak of, girl." The thing snarled. It held forth its hand and Elizabeth suddenly flew off Shadowfax and landed in front of the thing on its horse. Elizabeth didn't dare to move a muscle. She sniffed suddenly. EW...this thing needed a bath.

"Elizabeth!" Gandalf shouted.

"Ah, this child is also dear to thee." The thing said. "Know that she will suffer greatly at the hands of my master."

And with that, he retreated behind his gates with Elizabeth. She reached out for her friends as they tried to get to her before the gates closed. She let out a scream, but it was muffled by the thing's hand. Elizabeth bit into the thing's hand once the gate was closed. She immediately spit out what she'd bitten. It tasted just as stinky as it had smelled. Gross. The things you do for survival. Although, Elizabeth wasn't sure she'd survive behind the gates of Mordor.

"Stupid wench!" the thing cried and flung her from his horse. Elizabeth let out a scream and fell to the ground. "Come, my Master wishes to see thee."

Elizabeth was yanked back onto the horse and pulled aside as the army of Mordor exited their home through the same gate. Her friends would not have time to worry about her safety, for now, they'd only have time to worry for their own.

Elizabeth was near tears. She was going to die and Gandalf would not be able to save her. She would never see her friends again, or her family. A tear slid down her cheek as she called out softly to the only one who could save her now, but had not the power. If he heard her, it would be a miracle.

"Gandalf…"

Beyond the gate, Gandalf turned one last time to look back at the gate they were riding away from. A tear rolled down his cheek also as he heard a soft cry calling his name.

((A/N: OK, for those of you that don't know HANNON LE Thank you. So there. What do you think? It's so easy to answer that question! Just push that review button at the bottom of the page! Maybe I'll post again tomorrow if I get reviews from everyone who reads this chapter! I do have plenty of chapters to upload, you know. I just finished three today including this one! SO BE A COOL PERSON AND REVIEW!

Thank you thank you thank you!
Silent Watcher))