"So? What's the plan?" Titus asked as he aimed the Scorpio at a line of practice dummies.
Rin leaned on the column beside her and crossed her arms before replying solemnly "Aragorn wants us to empty Mordor. Draw their attention to us so Frodo can reach Mount Doom. We will battle the forces of Mordor outside the Black Gate."
"Say what!?"
Titus accidentally fired the Scorpio and nailed the dummy where the right eye would've been. He stared at Rin with wide, disbelieving eyes.
"Is he serious!? We barely won this battle and we are short on men. Morale is low. Rohan has no King. Gondor is barely standing after this massacre. The odds of winning against who knows how many numbers of Orcs inside Mordor is next to nothing!"
"We have no choice. Frodo and Sam are in Mordor, those Orcs are the only ones standing between them and the Ring's destruction. They need us. We cannot... We must.not.fail."
Titus nodded solemnly at the direness of the situation. He took his helmet and grabbed a shield beside him.
Rin saw the shield was rectangular and slightly curved. It's size was similar to that of a Gondorian Shield. The color was blue, the same shade as Titus's cape, and it had a black eagle in the center. Underneath the eagle was his favored proverb.
~FORTIS FORTVNA IUVAT~
"It's not as big as the original but it can still do it's job right."
Nodding, Rin walked beside him as they head off to find their Highlander friend.
~Line Break~
Aéd was feeding Cogadh when he saw from the corner of his eyes, Rin and Titus. He patted Cogadh twice before turning to his companions.
"What did they say?" He asked.
"We will empty out Mordor as soon as Gondor and Rohan has regrouped. Frodo and Sam are so close and Sauron's army is the only thing blocking their passage to Mount Doom. We will make our stand at the Black Gates."
Aéd sighed at the news. It was necessary if it means ending this war. And when this war ends, they will find their way home. He grabbed his Claymore and looked at the two "Might as well start training if this is our most important battle yet."
"Agreed." Titus nodded and left for the practice field. Rin gave Cogadh a carrot and ran her hand through his hair before following after Titus. Aéd watched them go before giving Cogadh one, gentle pat then leaving the stables.
The War of the Ring is almost at an end. When the horns have sounded, the swords shaken, the shields splintered. Middle-Earth and her Free Peoples fate now lies in the hands a Hobbit.
~Line Break~
After their sparring match, Titus went to the healing house to see how Faramir was doing. In his hand was a water skin filled with Gondor's finest wine he borrowed from the wine cellar. In his other hand were two goblets. Reaching the Healing House, he spotted Boromir leaning on a pillar with a bemused expression.
"What's with the face?"
Boromir motioned his head and Titus saw what he was so amused about. Faramir and Eowyn was staring at each other, lost to the world around them. Titus chuckled.
"Well... she did fancy a ranger."
"Indeed."
Titus turned to Boromir and said "I'm sorry about your father. From what I've heard, he may not have been the best father but he was still that, a father. I hear that you are to be named as the new Steward of Gondor. Though congratulations are in order, I doubt this was how you saw that you would inherit the position."
Boromir lost his smile at remembering his father's demise. Despite trying to reason with him, Denethor followed through with the funeral pyre. It pained him to see his father burn and plummet to his demise.
"You are right my friend. As honired as I am to accept this position, it still pains me on how I received it." He turned to Titus and said "Have you heard of the plan?"
Titus sighed "Unfortunately, yes. I don't like it. Our numbers are too few. It would be a slaughter. But it's the only choice we have. We.must.not.fail." He stared at Boromir with a look of conviction "For Frodo."
"For Frodo." Boromir replied.
Titus shook his head and notioned his head to the exit "Enough of this. Come, let us drink to our heart's content while we still can."
Boromir took one last glance at his brother before following after Titus.
~Line Break~
"A-and I said 'The b-brave men tastes death twice, cowards a t-thousand times sober.' Wait... *hic* that wasn't right. Heh heh, sober. HAHAHAHA!"
Titus didn't know how much wine they drank but he was sure that they had only one water skin of wine... or was it six? How did they get in the cellar? Well, he sure as hell doesn't care. He's too busy laughing his ass off.
Boromir laughed along before downing his drink in one go. Titus's laughter subsided before staring at his cup, lost in thought. A moment of silence passed the two before Titus spoke "You know what I say about those orcs, that stupid eye, Mordor in general."
"What?"
"Fuck 'em."
"W-what!?"
"You *hic* heard me. Fuck 'em!"
"Hehehe."
"Fuck Mordor and fuck the orcs."
"Fuck 'em." The two said at the same time before falling face-first on the table.
Unbeknownst to the two, Rin was leaning on the doorway and watching the two with an amused expression. She could hear their faint snoring and chuckled. She shook her head and left the room.
"Idiots."
She passed a few Gondorian soldiers who nodded in greeting. Most have heard of her prowess and ferocity in the battlefield. These claims were supported by the Rohirrim that fought and bled with her during Helm's Deep and the conclusion of the Battle of Pelennor Fields. Add to the fact that Titus holds her, and Aéd, in high regard and these men see Titus as their captain.
Her feet led her to the courtyard, where men were busy repairing the broken gate. She was impressed at how large the battering ram they used to cause this damage. Grond, they called it. An odd name if you ask her but then again, almost everyone here has odd names. Around her, some citizens walked around despite the damage the city had taken.
Rin leaned back on a statue in the middle of the courtyard and took out a bamboo flute. A soothing sound came from the flute, gaining the attention of passersby and the like. Rin was in her own world and ignorant of the outside world. As she listened to the tune, memories of Akane and their little home came to mind. All the things they've done as mother and daughter. She thought of living in Imladris with Akane by her side. Safe from all the horrors of the world. She could see Akane on her right and Titus on her left, his arm wrapped around her and a little bundle of joy, sleeping in her arms. Their own little heaven.
She stopped playing and opened her eyes. She was surprised at the amount of people watching her play the shakuhachi.
"And that was my composure of uh... yeah, I got nothing."
The crowd applauded, surprising Rin even more. She took of her kasa and bowed "Arigatō."
After the crowd thanked her for her part in saving Gondor and asking her questions about her culture, she left and headed to her temporary quarters. It felt good seeing these people smile, all she saw of them were sadness and grief. It's nice to know that she could make them smile through these dark times, it helps her sleep better at night.
'I wonder if Titus and Boromir woke up yet? With the amount of drinks they had, I doubt it.' She thought before taking off her weapons and gear.
Speaking of the Centurion and new Steward, the two were slowly waking up from their drunken sleep.
"Fuck... I thought we had one bottle of wine or was it six? seven?" Titus groaned out before shakily standing from his seat. He looked down and saw Boromir rub his hands around his temples.
"I believe we've overdone it, my friend. Oh... never thought I would get that drunk in the afternoon." The Steward replied before standing up. He groaned before looking at the Centurion "Perhaps we should return to our quarters to recover, yes?"
"Agreed."
The two took one step forward before falling face-first into the stone cold ground.
"Call for help?" Titus's muffled voice asked.
"Call for help."
"HELP!"
"Oh, Gods. That was loud."
"Agh, stop shouting."
Aéd, Faramir and Éowyn could only laugh at the scene before them. Well, the Ranger and Shieldmaiden laughed. Aéd just let out a chuckle before picking them up and placing them over his shoulders like sacs of potatoes.
"Where should I dump these two drunken fools?" He asked his two companions.
Before they could answer, Titus sent a sloppy and weak elbow to the back of Aéd's head.
"Fuck you, you... uh... something that is derogatory!"
"Quiet down, lad. Ya had too much to drink, ya drunken fool."
"Ohh... Thirteen!"
Aéd simply raised an eyebrow before following Faramir, all the while ignoring Titus's yells of the number thirteen. What's with the number thirteen anyway?
Once they've reached the Centurion's room, he threw him on the bed and slammed the door shut. He then went to Boromir's room and gently laid the Steward on his matress. He heard the man mumble something and leaned closer to hear it.
"W-winter is coming..."
Aéd snorted before leaving the two to their own drunken fantasies. He has better things to do than listen to the ramblings of drunks.
~Line Break~
Aéd was walking down the second level of Minas Tirith when he heard the cry of a baby. He found the source and saw a young woman and her child on one of the benches. The mother looked no older than 17 and tried in vain to stop her child from crying. Aéd walked over to the two and looked to the mother.
"May I?" He asked and the mother gently handed her child to the Highlander.
Bà i ù o hò
Bà i ù o hò
Bà i ù o hò
Gheib thu bainne bhuam
Gheib thu bainne bhuam
Gheib thu baine bhuam
Cha ann fuar ach blàth
Cha bhi mise bhuat
Cha bhi mise bhuat
Cha bhi mise bhuat
Mach air uair no dhà
Caidil thusa luaidh
Caidil thusa luaidh
Caidil thusa luaidh
Is na gluais gu là
Once he finished, the baby was asleep. He smiled and handed the child back to her mother. She looked at him and said "Thank you, my Lord. But what was that, if I may ask?"
"A lullaby sung by me mother when I was wee lad. Sung by my wife to our children too."
"You have children, my Lord? How many?"
Aéd smiled as he remembered his children "Aye. Two lads and lass." His expression grew sad as he said the next "I... lost my firstborn to war." He shook his head and asked the woman "You seem a bit young to be a mother, lass. I don't mean to offend ya, if that's what you're thinking. You just remind me of me own daughter."
The woman sighed and recalled her tale. She was a former barmaid in one of the taverns a distance from Minas Tirith. She had no family of any kind, all slaughtered by orcs along with her village. One day, she met a man whom she fell in love with after spending time together. Soon, he asked her to live with him in the White City and spent whatever moments they can together. One night of passion led to her bearing his child. Sadly, he was one of the soldiers that returned from Osgiliath and was part of Faramir's forces sent to take back the city. Aéd knew the fate of those who were tasked to take back the city, Titus told him. The woman tried holding back her tears but cannot. Aéd wrapped his arm around her and let her cry on his chest. As he held her, he can't help but wonder what his family is going through right now.
"There, there lass. Be strong. If not for you, then for your child. He is without father, but you don't have to do this alone. When this war is over, I will help you raise the lad."
The woman looked up with amazement at the Highlander "Why? Why would you do this, my Lord?"
Aéd smiled gently at the mother "Like I said, you remind me of my daughter. And I can't let a strong lad like your child grow without the love of a father." He chuckled "Or a grandfather. It seems more appropriate that way, wouldn't you say?"
The woman hugged him, saying thank yous but was muffled. Aéd let the woman go and asked "What's your name, lass?"
"Feniel, my Lord."
"And the child."
"Anglim, Son of Anglom."
Aéd nodded before saying "Well, lass. I think it's time to let the little one sleep peacefully in his bed, yes?"
"Of course, my Lord. Follow me, I will show you our home."
As Aéd follow Feniel, her figure changed to that of a red-haired girl. Beside her where three boys, two with the same shade of red as the girl while the other one had Aéd's hair color. Slowly, the brown haired boy faded.
'Soon. I'll be home soon.' He thought before reaching Feniel's house. His family is waiting for him. He wondered if he could ask Feniel and her child to stay with his family.
~Line Break~
"Gods, it's as hot as Vulcan's dick here." Titus mumbled before opening his eyes. He slowly sat up and observed his surroundings. He removed his tunic and trousers, leaving him bare. He got off the bed and walked to the window. His eyes landing on Mordor. The Eye staring at Minas Tirith. It felt like it was looking right at his soul.
"May Jupiter struck you with his strongest lightning and Neptune take a shit in your fucking volcano, Sauron. The bodies of your orcs are my gifts to Mars, you bloody cock."
The door to his room opened and revealed Rin standing there. She was clad in only her chest wraps and pants. Leaning on the doorframe with a raised eyebrow.
"Is this what you do in your free time, fool? Talking to yourself with your thing dangling out?"
Titus looked down before shaking his head with a chuckle.
'Look at you, standing in attention already?' He thought before looking at Rin to answer "Depends on the mood. Right now, however, you seem to cause me a little problem." He sat on the edge of the bed and raised a suggestive brow. Rin snorted then shut and locked the door before walking in front of him.
"Mind helping me with this?"
Without a word, she knelt down and spread his legs. She never broke eye contact as she engulfed him.