Chapter 21

The only obstacle between Frodo and Mt. Doom was the thousands of orcs and goblins that lay in between. According to Gandalf, Frodo was already in Mordor. They needed to find a way for the hobbit to get to Mt. Doom and cast the ring in.

Aragorn came up with a plan.

Using himself as bait, and lure the army out.

Sauron would spare no strength in crushing the heir of Isildur and Anduril, the sword that vanquished him in the past.

So, the next day, they rode out: the Fellowship and the rest of Gondor and Rohan's army along with Eomer and Ash.

Skyler clutched the rein of her horse tightly; this was their last stand. The future of mankind rides on today. But there was more than that on her mind, despite the bad times.

Throughout the ride, her gaze had altered between focusing on Haldir and Ash. It was after she visited Eowyn in the sanctum that she realized she will not be with Ash forever. She was, as odd as it may be, something closer to an elf than a human. She had lived for nearly sixty years and it didn't look like she will die anytime soon. Ash, however, was human, and she would not leave Eomer behind to follow Skyler into the Golden Woods or beyond that to the Grey Havens. Skyler couldn't give up Haldir and stay here either, because she knew Haldir would never give her up.

Provided she survived this battle, there would be, in front of her, the choice of mortality and death, or immortality.

She glanced up, startled, as the Black Gates creaked opened and orcs, goblins, and troll came out in vast numbers. She took a deep breath. Now was not the time to be distracted by these trivial things. The survival of mankind and other species hinged upon today's victory, Aragorn's victory. Today, they ride, for men. There was no going back. Today, she will fulfill her duty to the mankind that bore her. She would fight for them so that they will see the dawn of the new age.

Skyler unsheathed her sword and stared at the swarming black mass determinedly. Today is what mattered.

"Fight, fight, Men of the West, my brothers, and my friends! Fight for the Last Stand!" Aragorn roared.

Skyler raised her sword and shouted back with the rest of the group.

They rushed at the incoming orcs.

How many she fell, she could not remember, but she knew she was getting tired. She glanced around her briefly, as she beheaded a goblin. Ash grinned at her; somehow during the fray they had made their ways together. Her eyes widened when she saw a troll heading over to her mother from behind. On instinct she threw herself at Ash and pushed her down. The troll slammed his bat down, and Skyler could feel the bones break in her sword arm as she raised her sword to defend themselves.

Skyler bit back a scream of pain. Ash quickly got to her feet and sliced at the troll. However, it felt no pain, and raised its bat again.

Skyler braced herself for impact.

Suddenly the earth shook beneath her. She quickly opened her eyes and saw that the ground was sinking into an abyss before them. Thinking quickly, she yanked her mother backwards with her left hand, just in time before the ground collapsed where she had been standing. They fell back quickly to stable grounds.

Skyler glanced towards Mt. Doom; it was spewing lava and explosions where booming off to the side.

"He did it…" Ash whispered in awe.

"Frodo destroyed the ring." Skyler said softly. And she succumbed to the darkness, as the pain in her arm overwhelmed her.

The Third Age ended with the death of Sauron and his reign of darkness. The Fourth Age, the Age of Men began with the crowning of Aragorn, King of Gondor and the united territories. It had been a glorious event, Rumil and Orophin had being there. They escorted Arwen and Elrond here where Arwen became the Queen of Gondor. Eowyn's wounds, physically and emotionally, had healed and she was courted by Faramir, the second son of the former Steward of Gondor and brother of Boromir.

After the coronation people began to leave: the hobbits, Gandalf, Gimli and Legolas, Elrond, and even Haldir's brothers. The Fellowship of courage and friendship had dispersed. Skyler thought sadly as she glanced out the window, and that was how her mother found her. Ash had stayed behind with Eomer as he coordinated the new alliance with Gondor but they were leaving soon as well. Sky knew Haldir wished to leave as well, and a very big part of her wanted to go with him. This rocky land of marble and deserted fields is not for her. She was a creature of trees, forest, rivers, and whispering winds. The loudness of humans and the harshness of their language were getting to her despite the fact she was once a human herself. The years spent with the elves and in Fangorn were starting to show. Yet, she couldn't leave her mother…it was not right…

"Sky…"

Skyler remained focused at the window despite her mother's voice. She remained silent for a few minutes before she said softly: "I am at loss."

Ash came over and covered Skyler's hand with hers: "You were given a new life, Skyler, live it. I want you to be happy, and if going with that elf is it then do it."

Skyler glanced at her in surprise, awed by the fact that Ash knew her thoughts so well. Ash smiled wryly: "I had the same thoughts going through my head as well, but I believe it is time to let the past go."

"But…"

"You will always be my baby, but you've grown up. You've grown so much in the time I was not there. I regret my absence but certain things cannot be changed. Go, Sky, go where your heart lies as will I."

Skyler stared at the woman in front of her for a second before embracing her in a tight hug with her left arm, the only functional arm she currently had: "I love you. I really do."

"I know." Ash whispered, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, "I know, as do I."

"Addio, vivere a lungo e prosperare, ci rivedremo quando la fortuna sorride su di noi una volta di più." Skyler murmured as she pulled back, tears falling down her face.

Goodbye, live long and prosper, we will meet again when fortune smiles upon us once more.

"Addio, essere felice, il mio Tesoro." Ash said wiping away Skyler's tears.

Goodbye, be happy, my darling.

With that, Skyler yanked herself away from Ash and ran down the hall, unable to be in her presence any longer without breaking apart, and she did not want Ash to see that.

They left the next morning for Grey Havens, where Galadriel had sent words that she would be waiting. As Skyler stood at the gates of Grey Havens she looked back out to Middle-Earth.

"Così a lungo, madre, io ti amerò sempre. Borsa di studio così lungo, il mio amico e compagno, sarai nel mio cuore, sempre." She whispered and hoped that the wind will carry her words to those intended for.

So long, mother, I will always love you. So long Fellowship, my friends and companions, you will be in my heart, always.

She turned back to Haldir with a soft smile and he lightly gathered her into his arms and they walked towards the ship.

My name is Ena Cielo, daughter of Estella who was the daughter of Evelyn, sister to Elfwine and daughter of Eomer Eadig the Blessed and Ashlocke the Wise. My great-great-aunt was Lady Skyler of Lorién, the famed Guardian of Fangorn. I've never seen her nor have I ever met her, for she sailed away to Valinor even before my great-grandfather was born. I've seen a drawing of her in one of the scrolls they kept down in the Grand Study. I look a lot like her, or so mother said, which was why I was named after her in my great-great-grandmother's native tongue. The women sides of Ashlocke's bloodline were all taught to speak in this beautiful ancient language. Taking after Queen Ashlocke, we were taught to be independent, strong, intelligent, and most important of all we hold ourselves equal to all. But that was not all she taught us.

My mother said when she was a little girl, Queen Ashlocke used to tell her stories about her sister, Lady Skyler of Lorién and my mother, in turn, told me those stories. Queen Ashlocke had written down the story a long time ago, but the ink had faded with the passage of time, and the parchments cracked. I decided to record the story again, and penned down my thoughts as well for those who would read this in the future. For, I believe, Lady Skyler's story and Queen Ashlocke's story are those meant to be remembered through the ages. Their story is about triumphing over the darkness, and fighting for what they believed in.

I will use the words of the wise, passed down from a long time ago, said by the companion of the great ring bearer at the end of the Third Age to finish this story.

In the great stories, the ones that really mattered: full of darkness and danger. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? 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, 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. That there's some good in this word, and they are worth fighting for.