Chapter 15

Racing through level after level of the Stone city, the horses carried them to the top of the city. The four dismounted as soldiers came up to hold onto the horses. Gandalf asked Ava and Boromir to remain outside until they were summoned for. They nodded and looked to each other as Gandalf gave careful instruction to Pippin not say a word. Ava smiled looking to the young hobbit.

Pippin nodded to the wizard but glanced back at the two behind him smiling. Boromir wrapped his arms around Ava's waist once the Wizard and hobbit had gone inside. Gandalf could be heard speaking to the Steward of Gondor. Ava smiled at the steward's son caressing his cheek, kissing his lips lightly. Boromir smiled brightly returning it gently. He broke it after a few minutes hugging her close.

"Are you alright, love?" he whispered. She looked at him with a question in her eyes. Having many questions to ask but unable to ask them was frustrating her. "Are you in pain?" He asked softly scanning her form where her wounds were. She shook her head. Her neck had mostly healed though it still looked bad, but at least the pain was gone. Ava entered his mind, mixing the emotion of worry with him.

Boromir looked at her confused. "What are you worried about?" His voice became full of concern. Ava sent visions of Sauron's image of Boromir's death. Her eyes watered slightly, her hands rubbing his chest. Boromir grasped her hands gently. "Nothing will happen to me. I promise." He whispered kissing the top of her fingers.

"The rule of Gondor is MINE! And no others!" Came a gruff shout from inside. Boromir quickly looked to the door. He sighed realizing the power had gone to his father's head. He held onto Ava's hand leading her inside. He remained behind Ava's father, resting a hand on his shoulder. Gandalf stepped aside with the hobbit so Denethor could see his son was alive. Boromir noticed his father looked grieved and held his broken horn that had gone missing.

"Father." He said softly, stepping toward him. The Steward of Gondor looked up in shock, scanning him from head to toe.

"My son!" He said in a shaky tone as he stood going up to him. "You are alive?" He asked hesitantly touching his son's shoulder. When his hand made contact, he suddenly hugged him tightly. "Oh my dear boy!" Boromir returned the hug with one arm, the other still holding Ava's hand. "I thought you died. I thought I lost you." Denethor said pulling away from him to look at him.

"Almost did, father. However, Ava here saved me. I did not know word of my death spread. It was a lie." Boromir said pulling Ava to his side with arm around her waist. Denethor briefly glanced at the woman before raising his hands. "We should have a feast for your return!" He announced.

"No, father, you should heed Gandalf's advice. I have seen the army first hand and it will be greater. They are coming to destroy the White City." Boromir stated quickly.

Denethor glared at him. "Are you telling me how to run my kingdom?" he asked darkly.

Ava glared at him. "Father. This was never your kingdom, and I am not telling you how to run Gondor. Nevertheless, we are going to be under attack by the biggest army of the enemy and our soldiers are hardly fit for combat! I have not worked this hard to protect this city only to see it fall because of my absence!" Boromir was upset his father let the city fall so much.

"You dare lecture me about the cities demands! I know what this city needs! I will not light those beckons!" Denethor bellowed angrily. Ava's eyes darkened at the way he spoke to her lover. "Go freshen yourself up. Your room is still the way you left it." He growled, stumbling back to his chair.

"All has turned to vain ambition. He would even use this grief as a cloak and yet he still remains the same when his son is still alive!" Gandalf growled to Pippin as they quickly left the hall. "A thousand years this city has stood. Now, at the whim of a madman, it will fall."

Boromir sighed hearing Gandalf, knowing he was right. Ava's hand tightened around Boromir's in a painful grip. So much, the warrior winced and looked to her. "Come on, love. I will show you my room." He whispered leading her away.

She forced a smile bfore giving one last glare to the Steward. Boromir gazed around the empty halls wondering where his brother was. He had missed him greatly and wanted to check on him. Ava sensed his feelings and looked up to him, rubbing his arm soothingly. He smiled at her kissing her cheek. "I'm sorry. Ah, here we are." He opened the door of the doors to his room.

Ava gasped softly staring at the big room. He had a big bed and a spacious closet. A decent sized bathroom joined the room by a big oak door. 'So nice.' She mouthed, smiling brightly looking up to him. Boromir laughed and entered the room holding her hand. He closed the door behind them and turned toward her. "This is yours too. What's mine is yours, Ava." He said sitting on the bed. Ava smiled brightly, quickly caressing his face and kissed his lips passionately, wanting to be closer to him.

Boromir hummed lovingly returning it just as quickly. The kiss slowed to a loving kiss with gentle caresses from their hands and soft sighs. His hands found their place on her sides. She leaned on him, causing them to fall back onto the bed. They chuckled softly pulling each other closer. As they kissed again, their hands began undoing the ties of their clothing. Boromir kissed each inch of newly exposed skin, smiling at the soft sighs coming from Ava. It didn't take long before the clothing lay in a forgotten heap on the floor.

A few weeks later on a cool evening, Ava lay against Boromir simply enjoying the feeling of his bare body against hers. She gently brushed an amber-colored lock of hair from Boromir's handsome face while he slept. His expression was calm as he slept peacefully for the first time in many weeks. She smiled at him and lightly kissed his lips, before slipping from bed. She grabbed her dress from the floor and pulled it on.

She left the room, in search for her father. The Stewards' grumbling voice came from down the hall and curiosity took over as she quickly crept down to the main hall. She peered through the columns seeing a man standing before the throne of Steward. She found him handsome and favoring Boromir except with more reddish colored hair. She could only assume he was Boromir's little brother she had heard so much about.

"I would not use the Ring. Not if Minas Tirith were falling in ruin and I alone could save her." His soft voice came firmly.

"Ever you desire to appear lordly and gracious as a king of old." The Steward sneered. Ava's eyes widened at what she heard next. "Boromir would have remembered his father's need. He would have brought me a kingly gift." Denethor growled. 'Would have?' She asked herself confused by Denethor's reason he spoke of Boromir as though he still believed him dead.

"Boromir would not have brought the Ring. If he had stretched out his hand to this thing and taken it, he would've fallen." Faramir said quickly.

"Boromir was loyal to me!" She fled from the hall afraid to hear more. Instead of trying to find her father, she ran back to Boromir as fast as her feet could carry her. Why was his father speaking to Faramir as though Boromir was still believed to be dead? She made it to the room and pushed on the heavy door. Once she was in, she shoved the door closed and turned to Boromir. He was still asleep, though the blanket now only covered from his waist down. She went up to him scanning his face and exposed torso.

He murmured her name as he slept. Ava smiled removing her dress and settling in beside him so he would not know she had left when he woke. Boromir shifted to his side wrapping an arm around her. She pressed herself flush against him humming softly, loving the feeling of his skin against hers. She forced her mind to settle from the numerous thoughts so she could finally sleep.

The next day, Boromir showed Ava around the city. To her surprise, she loved the city of stone. They stopped to visit Shadow. The horse threw his head up in excitement with a neigh when he saw her. She smiled brightly hugging his neck tightly. "Hey big fella. Are they treating you well down here?" He asked rubbing the stallions' cheek.

Shadow snorted followed by a low whicker. Ava laughed softly hearing the horses reply in her mind. From touching the horse, it was habit to enter his mind. He wished the food had tasted better but he could not complain otherwise. She rubbed his neck and kissed his nose before they left the stables to head back to the higher levels. It was not long before they spotted her father sneaking around with Pippin.

"They are heading toward the beacon tower." Boromir noticed looking around for soldiers. He smiled brightly and they followed them to help hide the hobbit. "Another opportunity for the shire folk to prove their worth. You must not fail us." Gandalf said gently to the hobbit. Ava smiled resting a hand on his shoulder passing an encouraging feeling to him. He smiled brightly at them and took off. Boromir stood several feet away keeping an eye out for soldiers.

Gandalf scanned Ava noticing a sort of glow about her, having nothing to do with her elvish side. He smiled at her. "It's so good to see you smiling again." He stated softly. She beamed looking to the wizard. She looked at Boromir to show him why she was so happy. The wizard nodded with a soft hmpf. She smirked seeing the glint in his eyes. "He's got it!" He beamed quickly going to see the other beacon consume with flame. A soldier announced it excitedly as they watched on.

Ava went to Boromir kissing his cheek. He laughed wrapping her in a bear hug. She laughed silently returning it tightly. "Oh I love you." Boromir sighed smiling brightly. Ava kissed his lips in reply to say the same. He hummed and broke it after a moment. "Now we wait."

Boromir went searching for his brother while Ava rested. It had been nearly an hour and Ava finally got up leaving the room to look for food. She heard the hobbit swearing his oath to the Steward. Curiosity over-took her again. She got closer, staying hidden and paused seeing Faramir. "What would you have me do?"

"I will not yield the river in Pelennor unfought." She studied the greasy haired Steward that wouldn't even look at his son as he spoke. He was putting different food items on his plate. "Osgiliath needs to be retaken." He stated firmly.

Ava noticed this hit Faramir like a wall. His breathing quickened slightly and he looked very uneasy. "My lord, Osgiliath is overrun."

She watched as Denethor looked up to him sharply then went back to preparing his lunch. "Much must be risked in war." He said in a tone so cold, it sent chills down her spine. "Is there a captain here who still has the courage to do his lord's will?" Denethor stared passed Faramir.

Ava looked to his second son quickly, noticing he was looking his father over several times, trying to control the water trying to build in his eyes. "You wish now that our places had been exchanged… that I had died and Boromir had lived." His voice quivered slightly. Ava covered her mouth, realizing what the Steward was doing. Pippin looked completely confused and nearly spoke up until Denethor gave him a sharp look.

Raising his glass, he spoke in the same cold tone. "Yes. I wish that." He whispered. Tears sprang into her eyes watching Faramir.

"I will do what I can in his stead. If I should return, please think better of me, father." The youngest son said trying to keep his composure.

"That would depend on the manner…of your return." Ava heard enough and took off, yet again, looking for Boromir frantically. His brother was on a death sentence. Her bare feet padded almost silently due to her pace. She found him and nearly tackled him, completely out of breath. Her mouth was speaking frantically, her hands fisted in his shirt.

"Ava love! Slow down. What's wrong?" He asked worried. She sighed sharply and looked around quickly. Touching his temple, she showed him the last of what she just saw in the main hall. Boromir gasped grasping her arms. "No! I have to stop him!" His whole body froze with fear for his brother.

She held his hand and he ran with her in tow to get his armor. He quickly strapped it on. Ava's heart raced at the memory of the images from Sauron of Boromir being struck by three arrows. "No!" She cried going to him, shaking her head, tears forming in her green eyes. Boromir pulled her in an embrace. "I have to, my love. I will return to you. I promise." Ava cried softly burying her face in his chest.

She pulled away from him breathing heavily, tears streaming her face. "Take Shadow." She mouthed her expression leaving no room for argument, knowing her horse would take care of him. He nodded kissing her lips passionately before quickly pulling away and running to rescue his little brother.