Chapter 11

As Aica followed Faramir through the city she heard the squeal of a horse. Faramir redirected them to where the horses were kept. A black stallion was straining against his tethers. 'Captain, we found him running loose, only wearing a bridle, but he's completely wild.'
'No he's not.' Aica ducked past Faramir.
'Aica.' Faramir warned.
Aica ignored him, concentrating solely on the horse. 'Easy my lad. It's alright you know me, don't you?' The stallion calmed a little, lowering his head. 'Easy, I'm still me, I'm just better.' The black horse stepped towards Aica, pushing his nose into her hands. She ran her hand up his face, scratching behind his ears. 'There, good boy, my beautiful Halroch.'
'Do you know this horse?' Faramir asked.
Aica turned to him, nodding. 'He's my horse. His name is Halroch.'
Faramir nodded. 'Come on, we have a city to defend.'

Faramir and Aica joined the bulk of the soldiers, preparing for the orcs. Then they spotted trouble. Frodo had left the safety of his cover, and was stood atop a building, the Nazgûl reaching for him. Luckily Sam tackled him, causing the Nazgûl to miss. Both Faramir and Aica unleashed arrows into the beast. It screeched and flew away. Aica turned to Faramir. 'You have to let them go.' She pleaded 'Can't you see what it's doing to him, what it'll do to everyone.'
Faramir took a deep breath and nodded. Aica clapped his shoulder and they made their way over to the hobbits. Sam was talking to Frodo. 'It's like in the great stories, Mr Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy?' The two paused, listening to Sam's speech. 'How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you that meant something. Even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn't. They kept going because they were holding on to something.'
Frodo looked at Sam. 'What are we holding on to, Sam?'
Sam pulled Frodo to his feet. 'There's some good in this world, Mr Frodo. And it's worth fighting for.'
Faramir approached the hobbits and crouched in front of Frodo. 'I think at last we understand one another, Frodo Baggins.'

The Osgiliath officer approached them. 'You know the laws of our country, the laws of your father. If you let them go, your life will be forfeit.'
Faramir looked stiffly at him. 'Then it is forfeit. Release them.' Frodo looked gratefully at Faramir.
'Thank you.' Aica said to Faramir.
'Come, there is a way for you to leave Osgiliath.' Faramir gestured for them to follow him.
'Faramir.' The officer warned.
'That's final.' Faramir hurried off Sam, Frodo, Aica and Gollum behind him.
Faramir led them through the city to an old tunnel entrance. 'This is the old sewer. Runs right under the river through to the edge of the city. You'll find cover in the woods there.'
'Captain Faramir, you have shown your quality, sir.' Sam complimented gratefully. 'The very highest.'
'The Shire must really be a great realm, Master Gamgee, where gardeners are held in high honour.' Faramir returned the favour, causing Aica to smile. 'What road will you take once you reach the woods?'
'Gollum says there's a path near Minas Morgul that climbs up into the mountains.' Frodo replied. Aica shook her head; she couldn't believe that they were going through with this plan.
'Cirith Ungol?' Faramir grabbed Gollum and pinned him to the wall. 'Is that its name?'
'No. No!' Gollum tried to deny it, but Faramir tightened his grip. 'Yes.'
Faramir turned to Frodo in desperation. 'Frodo, they say a dark terror dwells in the passes above Minas Morgul. You cannot go that way.'
Gollum protested Faramir's comment. 'It is the only way. Master says we must go to Mordor, so we must try.'
'I must.' Frodo agreed.
Faramir tossed Gollum away. 'Go, Frodo. Go with the goodwill of all Men.'
'Thank you.' Frodo said.
Aica crouched down in front of the hobbits. 'I can go no further with you.' She said.
'Why?' Sam said.
'Because I must. It has been an honour, but this is where we part ways my friends. I wish you luck, and do not trust that creature.' She glared at Gollum. 'Be careful'
Frodo hugged her. 'You too Aica, and thank you.'
Frodo released her, allowing Sam to hug her. 'Thank you, Miss Aica. Take care.'
Aica nodded, before rising to her feet and stepped back as Frodo and Sam continued on their journey to Mordor. Faramir grabbed Gollum as he made to follow the hobbits. 'May death find you quickly if you bring them to harm.' He threw the creature towards the tunnel. He then placed a hand on Aica's shoulder. 'You should go with them.'
'No.' Aica bowed her head. 'This is their journey. I am needed here.' She looked into his eyes. 'My place is no longer at their side. This city should not fall.'
Faramir nodded once. 'Your horse is always ready, should you wish to leave.'
'Thank you Faramir.'

After the end of the assault Aica remained in Osgiliath with the soldiers. The young elf remained with Faramir in the city; she had nowhere else to go. She was drafted into the patrols and watches and helped train the soldiers, particularly the archers. It was strange for her to adjust to a place like Osgiliath. All her life she had lived in isolation, but she was a different elf now, when she thought back on what she used to be, she barely recognised herself. She had grown to like who she now was. On the night shifts Aica often found herself thinking about the fate of the hobbits, and of Legolas. The other elf had regularly been dominating her thoughts. All she knew was that she felt strongly for him, very strongly.
A couple of days passed after the departure of the hobbits from Osgiliath. All had been quiet, but the forces of Mordor still held the eastern bank, it would not be long before they were unleashed upon the west bank.
Aica's keen ears picked up the sound of movement on the river. She was rushing to inform Faramir and Madril, Faramir's second in command, when one of the night watchers was killed. 'They're not coming from the north.' Faramir said. He quickly ordered the men to river. Those who were asleep were quickly woken by their friends as everyone hurried to the river. They grabbed their weapons,
before pinning themselves behind walls. Aica drew her blades, waiting for Faramir's signal.

They allowed the first ranks of the orcs to pass them by, before Faramir broke cover, and the fighting began. Aica threw herself into the battle. The Gondorians were greatly outnumbered, but they fought anyway. Men and orcs were falling all around her as Aica fought on. Her blades and fingers were soon covered in black blood. The battle lasted through the night and into the dawn, the orcs coming in seemingly unending droves. She fought her way to a group of soldiers who were surrounded and outnumbered. Once Aica had helped them defeat the orcs, they heard Faramir's call as the Nazgûl soared overhead. 'Fall back! Fall back to Minas Tirith!' Aica and the soldiers she was with ran for their horses. Aica swung herself onto Halroch alongside Faramir, who mounted his own horse.

They raced out of Osgiliath, their horse's hooves pounding on the ground. The Nazgûl pursued them, diving in and out of the ranks, causing the survivors to duck and weave. Aica ducked under the claws of a beast and glanced back over her shoulder to where Faramir brought up the rear of the group. Minas Tirith grew ever closer, but to those fleeing Osgiliath the city seemed too far. Just when all hope seemed lost a rider emerged from the gates of minas Tirith. Aica's eyes widened when she saw who it was. Gandalf released a bright light from his staff, driving back the Nazgûl and allowing Aica and the Gondorians to escape.
Gandalf fell in at the front of the riders as they rode into minas Tirith, their horse's hooves chiming on the cobbles underfoot.

'Mithrandir!' Faramir approached Gandalf. They broke through our defences. They've taken the bridge and the west bank. Battalions of Orcs are crossing the river.'
'It is as the Lord Denethor predicted! Long has he foreseen this doom!' A Gondorian soldier called across the courtyard.
'Foreseen and done nothing!' Gandalf swung his horse around, revealing Pippin sat in front of him, Faramir's eyes widened. 'Faramir? This is not the first Halfling to have crossed your path.'
'No.' Faramir confirmed, shaking his head.
'Where? When?' Gandalf questioned.
'In Ithilien. Not two days ago.' Faramir replied. Gandalf and Pippin shared a happy look. 'Gandalf, they've taken the road to the Morgul Vale.'
Gandalf's smile faded. 'And then the Pass of Cirith Ungol.' Faramir nodded.
'What does that mean? What's wrong?' Pippin asked.
'Faramir, tell me everything. Tell me all you know.' Gandalf said. Faramir jerked his head, indicating they should follow him.

'I know little of their journey before we encountered them.' Faramir admitted, as they led their horses into the stables. 'But I know someone who does.'
'Who?' Gandalf asked.
'Me.' Gandalf and Pippin looked around at Aica. 'I travelled with them as far as Osgiliath.'
'Why did you leave them?' Pippin questioned.
Aica looked at Gandalf, before answering the question in Elvish. 'They travel with the creature Gollum, a creature I refused to go any further with.'
Gandalf nodded. 'Leave her be.' He said to Pippin.
'They'll be alright.' Aica reassured the young hobbit.
'Tell them what you must.' Faramir instructed Aica. 'I must go see my father.'
Aica took a deep breath and began to recount her tale as Faramir left the stables.

There was little for Aica to do in the city, so she spent much of her time either in the stables with Halroch, or preparing herself for the battle that was to come. She also spent time with Pippin, sharing adventures and stories. The hobbit voiced his delight at the change that had come over Aica since he had last seen her; she was more open, more cheerful, more likely to crack a joke than to threaten death upon an ally.
While Pippin was swearing his oath to Gondor Aica was once again in the stables. She looked around when Faramir entered, dressed in full armour and armed. 'What's going on?' she asked.
'My father has ordered me to retake Osgiliath.' Faramir replied, saddling his horse.
'What? You'll all be killed.' Aica protested. 'That city is not worth dying over.'
'I don't have a choice.'
'Because you want to please you father? That's insane!'
'What do you know about something like this?' Faramir turned on Aica.
'A lot more than you think.' Aica replied quietly.
'I'm sorry.' Faramir apologised. He took a deep breath. 'I need your word that you will help defend this city.'
'You have it.' Aica confirmed, without hesitation.
'Thank you.' With that Faramir led his horse from the stables.


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