Chapter 16

Ava wrapped her arms around her middle, fear twisting her stomach in a sickening and painful way. She let out the breath she realized she was holding, before she bolted out of the room. She followed her heart, running blindly with the tears welling in her eyes. Her feet led her to the lower levels, barely making a sound along the cobble stone.

Darting down an empty alley, she heard a single set of rapid horseshoes racing down the main pathway. She burst through the crowd of people in time to see Boromir and Shadow fly by. She tried screaming his name and cried softly watching them disappear. She did not care about the citizens staring at her.

She ran up the stairs to the top of the boarding wall. The pair pounded down the cobble stone to the main gate. Shadow flashed through the gate, found another gear, and surged toward the mounted soldiers. Her hands clenched restlessly in her dress trying to catch her breath, watching them. Shadow gained on the line of galloping horses.

Two firm hands grasped her shoulders and pulled her from the wall. "Come on, Aesuithiel. Lets go, love." Gandalf said gently. Ava clung to the wall, her eyes glued on the one she loves. The old wizard pulled her away firmly and led her to an empty room. "It is better not to watch, my dear daughter. It only causes unneeded worries and thoughts." He said gruffly finding a seat.

When she did nothing, he looked up to her and sighed softly. She was pacing the floors endlessly, while her hands continuously fidgeted over a lock of her long black hair. Her gaze was distant and every inch of her expression showed her fear for her lover. "Ava?" He sighed when she kept pacing without acknowledging him.

He feared that if anything happened to Boromir, he would lose his daughter. He could not lose her again. She loved him, he finally realized, and she would fade if the Steward's son died.

An hour later, the horn blared loudly. "Open the gate!" a soldier shouted. Ava gasped and fled from the room. She arrived at the main entrance, her hands moving restlessly, holding her breath. One door creaked open and Shadow came in at a slow pace with Faramir's horse right behind him. Ava let out half a scream of terror, going to the horses. Boromir was still in the saddle lying heavily on the Friesians neck. He had received an arrow to the chest and two in the back. Faramir was being dragged on the ground, a mere cord around his ankle kept him connected to his horses' saddle. Three arrows stuck out of his chest and abdomen.

Soldiers rushed up to help their lords. The first son groaned, weakly patting the black horses' neck. Ava moved his hair from his face, tears streaming down her own. He looked to her and smiled slightly. "Did I save him?" he asked softly.

"I don't know." She mouthed checking him over. "You're going to be ok." She said helping him down with a few soldiers. They removed the arrows out of both men, pulled Faramir onto a stretcher, and carried him to Denethor. Ava helped Boromir walk through the levels. Shadow followed them slowly, exhausted from the sudden and hard run. "You did so well. My beautiful boy." Ava praised in the animals mind when she kissed his nose. He snorted softly his breathing finally slowing to normal. A stable hand ran up and took a hold of the horses' reigns to take care of him.

They finally made it to the healers where they took care of his wounds. "He needs a few days bed rest to heal. The wounds weren't deep to cause too much harm." The healers said, knowing Boromir would fight them. "Good luck getting him to follow that order." He said with amusement in his voice to Ava. She smiled and petted Boromir's hand gently.

Boromir woke looking up at her already feeling better. Ava smiled at him stroking his cheek lovingly, before kissing his lips. He hummed against her and broke it after a moment. "Is Faramir alright?" He asked worried. She froze thinking but shrugged showing him with pictures in his mind that he was taken to Denethor. "Oh no." He groaned. "I must find him." Ava kept a firm hand on his shoulders keeping him down, glaring slightly.

Boromir looked up to her confused. "What?" Ava replayed what the healer said in his mind and the steward's son growled in response. "I have to find my brother. He may be dying."

Ava sighed softly. "I will find him. Please rest." She mouthed. He understood and nodded. She kissed his forehead then his lips before leaving the room quickly. She too wanted to make sure young Faramir was all right. "Abandon your posts! Flee! Flee for your lives!" Denethor bellowed. She finally made it to the upper level, breathless again. Looking around, she found Denethor knocked out on the ground. Gandalf shouted to the scattering soldiers. "Prepare for battle!"

Ava found Faramir on the stretcher and knelt beside Pippin, examining the wounded man carefully. "He is still alive, Ava. He needs medicine." Pippin whispered softly. Ava nodded brushing a wet lock of reddish hair out of his face. She smiled at the hobbit and motioned for him to stay with him. He nodded as she went to her father, worried for the brothers. Gandalf nodded. "I know dear. I'll send up a healer. But I must prepare the soldiers."

It was not long after when her father left, that Denethor began coming to his senses. Ava stood guard over Faramir, determined to keep the insane Steward away from him. "Get out of my way." He growled with a glare that could burn anyone who would cower before him.

Ava glared back him, standing with her back straight. He charged toward her and with a force field she shoved him back, taking a stance Boromir showed her. He shouted in surprise falling flat on his back. He stumbled to his feet roughly setting his clothing straight. "He is MY son!"

Anger took over and she took a deep breath. "YOU TRICKED HIM WITH A LIE AND IT NEARLY COST HIM HIS LIFE!" She bellowed with a great amount of magic she had never felt before. Her eyes looked like those of a dragon. Denethor shook and whimpered in fear of her dark demeanor she held.

"And you are the horrid maid who will be with my first born? Faramir is too weak and his wounds are too great! He will not last long!" He sneered glaring at her then to Faramir. Her glare darkened and a deep growl emitted from her throat.

Pippin stood up voicing Ava's exact thoughts on the matter of the wounded man. "You don't want him to survive. You want your wish fulfilled by Boromir being alive and Faramir dead!" Denethor rushed up to him to backhand him. Pippin screamed in fear but Ava caught the man's wrist and kneed him in the stomach. She turned to Pippin hugging him tightly. Denethor ran inside coughing from the attack. The healer arrived just then and examined Faramir thoroughly.

"He will be ok. It will take him time to come back to us, but let him rest." The healer said softly looking to her. She nodded and looked to the guards to move him to his room. Ava sighed softly relieved she had good news for Boromir. Pippin followed the soldiers who carried Faramir away. Trumpets blared signaling the enemy was aligned and preparing to attack the city. The ground and walls shook when the orcs launched their catapults.

With in minutes the city rang with screaming and rumbling of buildings collapsing. Shouted commands to soldiers to fight for their city or to fire their catapults were joined into the sounds of the city. I hope this is our last battle, Ava thought hopefully. She grabbed a sword from a fallen soldier and headed to the healers to protect Boromir. When she arrived, to her horror, Boromir was gone. She quickly looked around frantic. A nurse ran up to her. "I assume he went looking for you, my lady." Ava went to his room strapping on her armor and weapons.

Down by the wall, soldiers collected in the huge opening before the gate when there was a break in the fight. Boromir ran up the stairs to stand above them. Soldiers cheered in excitement seeing their captain once more. "Boromir!" Some shouted. "My brothers! I know rumor spread that I was dead. Well as you clearly see, I am alive and before you! I have returned to you to help defend our city! My father let it fall. We shall not fail tonight!"

The soldiers cheered hitting their shields or raising their weapons. "We fight for Gondor!" Boromir shouted raising his sword.

"For Gondor!" They all cheered and chanted, getting louder and louder with each shout. "Take your positions and make her proud!" Boromir shouted. The soldiers quickly returned to their posts with renewed spirits. Right then, a Nazgul screeched and the nine wraiths on their fell beasts began attacking the city, also.

Ava knelt down with a wince quickly covering her ears at the continuous screech from the wraith. He soared by and he finally stopped. Her hearing being more sensitive due to the elf to her, made her ears ring when the scream had stopped. Shaking her head, Ava used her magic to find her father and Boromir's mind. Gandalf was the first one found and very close by, he was shouting orders. She made it up to him and paused, staring at the numerous metal towers slowly advancing on the wall.

"Not the towers! Shoot at the trolls! Aim at the trolls!" Gandalf shouted walking past her quickly, seeing the soldiers were stupid enough to continue firing arrows at the towers. They lowered their bows firing at the trolls, whose roars of agony were heard. Several slowed drastically while the rest made it to the wall. Several catapults were successful in taking a few towers down. The one near Ava let its door fall on the stone. She used force fields to move the soldiers away and quickly thrust her hand toward the tower palm facing the tower. A fireball hurtled toward it, followed with a huge explosion. Screaming fiery orcs went flying in every direction. The nearby soldiers cheered then they started cutting down orcs on the wall.

"Ava!" She whirled around hearing Boromir voice. The only scene before her was the orcs and men fighting, screaming, falling dead. Smoke rose surrounding the city from the flaming bombs the orcs threw at them. Boromir's voice sounded close but she could not see him. She shook her head and continued fighting with her twin blades.

Several screaming faded in, causing Ava to look up. Seven men fell from a dragon flying overhead. Dropping her swords and with her hands raised, Ava used every once of magic she could muster and thrust it at the men. They were caught by the force field and slowly lowered to the ground safely to regain their footing. Ava smiled though she felt very drained, having used all her strength.

A hand snatched her arm roughly, dragging her into abandoned alley. She gasped trying to get away to grab her swords. The other was too strong and won pulling her into a house. She turned to throw a fist at the being. A glaring Boromir caught her wrist. "Why are you out here, Ava?" He asked with a hint of anger in his voice, releasing her wrist.

She stared at him shocked. He was the one that was wounded and he was lecturing her for fighting. He was lucky she did not have her voice or she would have unloaded on him. Her eyes darkened and narrowed dangerously into a dark glare. "Why are you?" her lips moving quickly. He read them and looked to her face.

"I needed to encourage the men. They need me to be their captain." He explained gently, understanding her anger.

She rested a hand over his injury on his chest. "You're wounded and need rest, Boromir." He covered her hand with his own. She looked to his face, scanning it slowly.

"I will be ok. The healer said they were minor. My men need me to b-"

"I need you alive!" Ava squeezed his hand tightly cutting him off. He winced looking to her eyes. "I am alive. Please go back to the room. I can't lose you." He said softly.

Ava shook her head before he caressed her cheek. She sniffled looking up to him, tears welling in her eyes. "I will fade from this world if you die, Boromir." She said carefully so he could read her lips. He shook his head and kissed her lips for a moment. "I am not going to let that happen. I'm staying right here for you. Please stay close to me. We will protect each other. " She nodded hugging him tightly before they left the house quickly fighting a new flood of orcs.

~TBC~

I tried having these two chapters up earlier but my computer decided to not work. I had these done shortly after chapter 14. Sorry about the wait everyone! Please review and let me know what you think!