"We think it would be best if you stayed behind on the ship,penneth. Ada would not want you fighting in this battle, and as your brothers, we certainly do not wish for such a thing to happen."
I opened my mouth to protest but promptly shut it again when Elladan shot me a disproving look. For once, I was actually content to be left behind. I had barely managed to stay alive during Helm's Deep; there was no telling what would happen to me on the Pelennor.
"So... I should just stay here?"
"Yes.', the twins said in unison.
"Okay.', I shrugged.
"So that's it?', Elrohir asked uncertainly. "No tantrums? Not even a stubborn refusal?"
"No sneaking out?', his brother added with a grin, and I sheepishly remembered that Haldir or Aragorn had spoken of my stunt at Helm's Deep to my brothers at some point.
"I'm not some little kid.', I shot back, wrinkling my nose at them. "I know how to take no for an answer... every once in awhile that is."
"On the contrary.', Elladan chuckled, but upon seeing me grimace he quickly clarified his words. "I meant your age, Rielásse. You are but a sapling compared to the many years we have lived. And that makes you all the more dear to us."
"Which is why', Elrohir picked up where his twin left off, draping an arm around my shoulder in a brotherly fashion and pulling me close. "We do not wish to see you placed in harm's way. We have only gotten you back, after all."
"If this is some roundabout way of saying 'I love you'... then I guess I love you guys too.', I grinned, shrugging out of the group hug I soon found myself trapped in at my declaration. "Yikes. Let a girl breathe will ya? You guys hug harder than daerada!"
"Ah! So you have met the Lord of Caras Galadhon, have you?', Elrohir said, his lips tipping upwards into a familiar smile. "Tell us, what did you think ofmavwenanddaerada?"
"Well, I certainly know where you two get the mischievous streak!', I laughed. "Would you believe he took me on a pranking spree?"
They eagerly listened as I explained what our grandfather had been up to, laughing several times in the process.
xXx
"You are staying on the ship."
I blinked dumbly at Legolas for a moment.
"Actually, Legolas I have already decided that I will—', I began.
"Pardon?', he asked in disbelief, raising an eyebrow in my direction.
Whoops. That did not come out right. Well it did... but he is totally but he butchered my meaning by interrupting. He probably thinks I am going to sneak off again...
I opened my mouth to finish my statement but he interrupted again before I had the chance to explain that Elladan and Elrohir had already discussed the matter with me.
"You are not well.', Legolas growled out.
I am perfectly fine!', I retorted, upset that he had not let me speak my piece.
"You are not fighting in this battle!"
"I know that!"
"Yet I can not expect you to stay on the ship after what you did at Helm's Deep!"
"I survived that battle.', I pointed out.
"By the will of the Valar! But this struggle promises to be ten-times what Helm's Deep was!" His frown deepened. "Tinwë, you were not meant to be in this battle! These events that are happening... you were not meant to be in them!"
"I know!', I shouted, finally obtaining his full attention.
"Do you not think I know that, Legolas?', I whispered. "That I have no place here? I may have—" I swallowed past the lump in my throat. "I may have changed everything simply by being present at the wrong time."
Perhaps Sauron was right... maybe I will be the downfall of the free peoples of Middle Earth.
Blanching at the thought, I took a hurried step back and disappeared down the stairs that led to the belly of the ship.
xXx
"Legolas." Aragorn's tone was firm, drawing the elf's attention away from where Riley had disappeared. "I heard the argument. What happened?"
"He has made a fool of himself, that's what happened.', Elladan said in a low voice, his tone stretched. "Riley has already had enough doubts plaguing her mind of late. I can only imagine what is going through her mind at the moment."
"I was only trying to make her understand the gravity of the situation!', Legolas muttered defensively, taking a small step back at the fierce glances the twins exchanged with one another.
"By telling her she has no place among us? By confirming the fears you have told us she has?', Elrohir spat back.
"I did not intend it to sound as such."
"Elladan and I had already explained our wishes to her, Legolas. Perhaps if you had let her speak she would have told you that we came to a satisfying agreement. But instead you have created a mess!"
"I was trying to convince her that the battle would proceed as it was meant to with or without her help.', the silvan argued, though he knew that he was the one in the wrong.
"Try explaining that to the lass. She's locked herself into her quarters below.', Gimli harrumphed as he appeared from below decks.
"Did she—" Legolas paused, hesitating on whether or not he should explain to his friend what had happened.
"Say anything? No. The lassie didn't look like she could get two words out without bursting into tears.', the dwarf replied, giving Legolas a knowing look. "You've got your work cut out for you, lad."
"I will explain things to her.', the Mirkwood prince sighed, leaving his place by the railing.
"There is no time.', Elrohir said quietly. "The harbors have come into sight. And I do not know that she would welcome your presence at the moment. Indeed, I do not know that we would feel led toallowyou near her."
A sinking feeling filled Legolas' lower stomach.
"Ai, Valar!', he whispered. "I have created a mess of things."
An inelegant snort from Elladan only confirmed his statement.
xXx
"Gah! Riley you idiot!', I groaned, flopping onto the small berth that was built into the wall. "Why do you have to overact so much?"
I glared at the ceiling of the tiny room, lost in my frustration over what had passed a few moments ago. I was incredibly tempted to smash something against the wall, but the only objects in the room were my weapons, which were tucked safely underneath the bunk. Vaguely, I was aware that we had docked and that my friends and family had vacated the boat in favor of the battle, leaving me alone on board. Sighing, I tucked my arms underneath my head and simply laid there for several moments. The roar of battle was heavy, rattling the timbers of the vessel as battle cries were hurled at the opponents. The steady stamp of armies echoed in my ears, followed by horns blowing notes in rapid succession to signal different commands to soldiers.
I shivered upon knowing that the number of lives that had or would been taken in this battle had never been recorded in the books, being far beyond the count imaginable. It never occurred to me until that moment how much would have been altered by Boromir's changed fate, but my paranoia was extremely high when the thought entered my mind. Faramir had been more than willing to hand the reign of Gondor over to the rightful king, in both books and movies, but Boromir... Boromir might not be ready for that. And if the Denethor had not been driven to madness then things could quickly become even more tangled.
Another huff escaped my lips; the Steward's son would not be happy when he found that his father had committed suicide because his horn had been found in the river and he had been presumed dead. Faramir's brother would most likely feel betrayed, perhaps he would even severe the bonds of friendship that had slowly grown between us. It would suffice to say that I was not looking forward to our next confrontation.
After I had pushed my paranoia to the back of my mind, I became aware that my hands were cool to the touch. Ignoring the feeling, I laid there for another few hours before finally sitting up. But I did not remain upright for long, as my vision blurred and became dark. Something was not quite right, I managed to realize before I gave into the welcome darkness, suddenly feeling very tired.
xXx
Boromir's muscles rippled as he swung his battle sword several times, hacking through one orc after another. His heart had sank upon seeing his city burning, dread twisting his gut when he registered that this was what Pippin had seen through thepalantir. He had not thought until the night in Edoras how dangerous a tool the seeing stones could be, and the Steward's son felt his stomach drop lower when he realized that his father had found one in the ancient vaults beneath the city— the vaults that had once belonged to the heirs of Isildur.
The outrage of seeing his home in flames made adrenaline course through his veins, lending him extra strength for the struggle ahead. The enemy had been driven back several times, only for them to regroup and return with different tactics. The Haradrim and Easterlings were skilled fighters, and although most of them had been slain during the charge of the Rohirrim, many were still standing haughtily against the armies of Rohan and Dol Amroth, who had arrived to aid Gondor in this time of struggle.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Éomer cling to the form of a fallen soldier, one who he was surprised to recognize as the shieldmaiden of Rohan, King Théoden's niece, who laid beside her fallen uncle. Tears welled in his eyes as he saw the utter despair be written across Éomer's face, his own sense of failure rising in his throat.
Was this to be the end? The end of freedom? He vaguely remembered Riley speaking of how valuable freedom was, and he suddenly realized why she had spoken with such awe of her country: awe of the soldiers who had sacrificed their blood for her freedom. And in that moment, Boromir gladly made the decision to follow in the footsteps of Riley's countrymen. Whether he lived or died... it did not matter at that moment. In that moment he was as his ancestors: strong and courageous in the face of the uprising darkness. Joining the cry of "DEATH!" that so many had taken up, Boromir rode to war, to wrath, and to a red dawn.
"If this is to be our end... then we will make it one of remembrance.', he thought softly to himself, mirroring the very thoughts Théoden had had mere days ago.
The battle had taken a neutral stance, tipping in the favor of neither side. It gladdened his heart slightly, for the fight had not been in their favor several moments ago. But perhaps their victory was simply not meant to be, he deemed with a small shiver as the legendary black corsair ships of Umbar appeared.
It did not take him long to realize that something was off about the ships. A large standard was unfurled, and a wry smile tipped his lips as he recognized the emblems that no lord had borne for several centuries: the signs of Elendil. The rightful King was returning to Gondor, and while such a thing had once caused him to be distraught, it was no longer so. Boromir did not believe he would mind serving such a king as Aragorn would one day make.
The Dead appeared, making even the sturdiest soldier among them quail, though it was swiftly found that the only harm that came from these battle-ready ghosts was dealt to their enemies. Within the hour the city had been cleared of the foul presence of orcs, and those who remained alive fled.
The battle had been won.