I am so sorry. I know everyone is tired of hearing that. But my computer is falling apart. I wrote this chapter with a flashlight shined on my screen because the backlight died. I apologize for further delay on the next chapters. Im working on fixing it. After a long wait, I hope you enjoy this chapter! :D Thank you for sticking with me on this! Please read and review!
Chapter 17
Gandalf and Boromir had ordered all the soldiers to next level up already. Orcs had over run the first level and were ramming the second gate. Ava remained close to Boromir, making sure he would not get hurt again. They were still fighting when a little voice cried out from the chaos. Ava recognized the voice as Pippin's and looked for him.
"Gandalf!" he cried again sounding much closer this time. He ran up to the white wizard out of breath. "He's gone mad! Denethor is burning Faramir alive!" He exclaimed quickly before he found himself on the back of Shadowfax.
Boromir looked horrified with what the small hobbit just spoken. "I have to get my brother!" He looked to Ava with much worry in his eyes. Ava nodded kissing his lips lightly before pushing on his shoulder to get him to go. He hesitated watching her for a moment then ran to a near-by horse and making his way to his brother. Ava tried following for a minute until several orcs cut her off.
She fought them with much effort, realizing she was beginning to tired greatly. She slipped into an empty house resting a hand on her chest. It took longer for her breathing to slow to normal. Feeling confused and weak, she placed her swords on the table in the room, sitting down with her arms crossed over her stomach. She then leaned forward slightly, taking several deep breaths to calm down. Nausea swept through her suddenly. She quickly covered her mouth and ran for the empty bucket. She vomited violently into it. She coughed a few times confused by the feelings consuming her.
Several shrill neighs rang through the pathway. She snatched her swords, sheathing them and ran outside fearing one of them is Shadow. To her horror, Shadow was leading the stampede through the city. She stood out in front of the terrified herd of horses. When Shadow was near enough, she thrust her arm out, catching his neck and used his momentum to swing her onto his back. The Friesian whinnied loudly, bucking a few times. Ava held on like glue and managed to break them away from the herd, running to the upper levels.
Her horse snorted vigorously when she dismounted, running toward the chambers where the shouts were emitting. Exhausted, she reached her father and Boromir staring at the scene.
She entered just as Gandalf had knocked Denethor away from platform that was on fire to the ground. Pippin jumped through the flames and with a yell of effort, he rolled the unconscious Faramir off the fiery deathbed. Boromir ran forward, catching his brother helping Pippin pat the flames out on the younger brothers clothing. Ava ran forward kneeling down. Boromir had Faramir's torso resting on his thighs while supporting his head with one of his hands. Ava rested her hand on the young man's cheek.
"NO! You will not ruin this for me!" Denethor screamed grabbing Pippin's and Ava's arm roughly. "You will not ruin this for me!" He shouted. Pippin cried out in fear. Ava growled deeply at the man and thrust him over the fire and onto the platform with a hard shove.
"Father!" Boromir shouted in concern. The grease ball of a man recovered slightly and looked to Faramir, who had just opened his eyes to Ava's soft touch. By that time, his heavy animal furred, oil soaked cloak caught fire and engulfed the man. He screamed running to his death off the top of the city. Boromir stared after him but quickly looked to his brother, who was currently looking at Ava. She smiled with tears welling in her eyes in relief.
Together, Boromir and Ava lifted the injured man into Boromir's arms. Ava smiled at the man's strength, taking a moment to admire him. They walked together as he carried him to his room. Ava helped get him comfortable and left the room to give Faramir and Boromir a moment to themselves.
~O~
Faramir looked up to his brother, tears welling in them. Boromir wiped them away, trying to soothe him. "I'm finally with you again, brother." Faramir said in a weak voice. "How did I die?" he asked having not remembered his death. Boromir scanned him in concern but gave a gently smile.
"My sweet Faramir, you have not died. I am alive. I know of the lie father used against you. You do not have to fear him again." He said gently to make him understand. The younger man stared up at him in shock, daring to hope this was not a dream. He moved to sit up but Boromir held him down shaking his head. "Please try to rest." He insisted taking a seat beside his confused brother.
Faramir reached up with a hand and clasped his brother's shoulder, smiling broadly. Boromir returned the smile and pulled his brother into a hug, shoving from his mind how he almost lost everything else in his life that had meaning to him. Ava was first in his life, but, the thought of losing his little brother he had fought to protect ever since their mother died, broke his heart.
Faramir returned it happily and as tightly as his weakened body would allow. He pulled away looking his brother in the eyes. "How did you find out about the orders father gave me?" He asked curiously.
Boromir smiled brightly. "Ava warned me." He said looking to where she had been and gasped. "No!" he shouted, suddenly standing up looking around alarmed.
"Where is she?" Faramir asked in concern, watching his brother before looking around the room.
Boromir looked at him with an apologetic expression. "I have to find her! I'll be back, brother." He said urgently, kissing his brow. "Please rest." He pleaded before running from the room. He expected to see her in the hall waiting from him. To his dismay, she was gone. How long had she been gone? He did not remember hearing or seeing her leave the room. Hoping to find her in their room, Boromir rushed there fearing she returned to battle. He was terrified she would be killed if he were not there to protect her.
His heart fell seeing no one had been in their room. "Ava where are you?" His voice no more than a whisper. His feet carried him to the courtyard where he had left his horse and cursed when all the horses were gone. His anger only grew when one of the soldiers announced that a woman had come through about half an hour ago to return them to the stables. "For some reason I doubt that's where they all ended up." He growled darkly.
Once at they stables he found his horse and mounted it, racing to the wall, pushing his mount as fast as it could on the cobblestone. The doors holding the trolls back were not going to hold much longer he knew. The horse stumbled when his shoed hooves slid across the smooth stones when rounding a sharp curve. Boromir urged it on, tapping its sides with his heels.
BOOM!
Boromir winced at the sound on the doors drawing nearer, finally seeing Gondor's army holding the door closed.
BOOM!
A loud crack followed the strike. His eyes quickly searched the army for Ava. One last strike against the door and the door flew open, crushing those that were too close to it. Boromir rushed forward withdrawing his weapon, as everyone began fighting the screaming trolls.
~O~
Ava knew that taking the horses and rejoining the fight without him would anger him greatly, but she did not want him getting hurt when he was already wounded. She wished he would take the hint and stay with his brother. Doubtful. She thought to herself. She charged at the flood of orcs pouring in behind the trolls. Keeping her thoughts trained on the task in front of her helped keep the guilt from her heart. She slew many by using the techniques that Boromir had taught her before the council.
The rohirrum had finally arrived renewing the spirits of everyone in the city. She was thrilled when the city began clearing from the orcs that had invaded. Ava caught sight of Boromir and ducked away from view fighting more orcs. The trumpeting of the Oliphants rang through the valley. The elf ran through the gate with Shadow. They flew through the remaining orcs there and joined the group from Rohan, charging toward the Oliphants.
She saw Legolas climb one of the enormous beasts with great ease, quickly unsaddling it and killing it with a self-satisfied smirk. She laughed guiding Shadow between ones legs slicing them with her twin blades. The Oliphant roared in pain falling to its knees with a thud before crashing to the ground. Another tripped and fell on top on the one she crippled, killing both. A green mist flooded around the city killing the remaining enemy quickly.
They found out Eowyn had beheaded the fell beast that tried to make a meal of her Uncle, and had killed the Witch King. Ava gasped sharply wrapping her arms around her stomach. Shadow twisted his head looking to her quickly, whoofing softly through his nose. "Aesuithiel!" Legolas cried running up to her. "Are you hurt? What happened?" She looked to him worried and quickly jumped off the black stallion. She fell to her knees throwing up again. Legolas ran around Shadow to her, worried. He helped her to her feet once she was done.
She arms remained around her stomach but she leaned heavily on Legolas, wishing Boromir was with her. Legolas lead her to the city with Shadow following. It was Long until Legolas found Boromir. "I don't see any blood but she got sick and seems to be injured." Legolas quickly explained. Boromir nodded thanking the elf before picking Ava up in his arms. Ava winced seeing the complete anger in her lovers face before passing out in his arms.
~O~
Ava awoke to a nurse tending to her. "Good morning, My Lady Ava." He said gently, sitting beside her. She looked to him confused. "I was told to inform you that Lord Boromir left for war with the remaining men capable of fighting, with Lord Aragorn leading them." He said upon her expression. Ava sighed heavily and looked away as tears welled in her eyes. When the healer left, she rolled over burying her face in her pillow and cried softly. He had left her to fight, when she was unconscious. If she had known he would have been so angry that it changed how he felt with her, she wouldn't have left him with Faramir.
She wrapped her blanket around and stood up walking to the balcony overlooking the valley. 'How long have I been out?' She thought, seeing the fields were back to the way they were. Not a single orc, felled soldier, or beast was in sight. She wrapped an arm around her stomach again. The nauseous feeling had returned. She groaned glaring at the horizon. Nothing was in her stomach and she was becoming frustrated that her body kept trying to empty it.
She was so distracted that she had realized that Eowyn had stepped up beside her. Both women were incredibly pale and fragile looking. The blonde haired woman offered her a gentle smile becore looking over the land gloomily. "Such darkness still hovers over the land. Will it even end if the Dark Lord is defeated?" Eowyn asked sadly. Ava looked to her with a comforting expression, forgetting her sickness momentarily. Faramir was scanning both women silently listening as Eowyn continued. He stepped forward and took Eowyn's hand.
"I believe the days will brighten soon after he falls and the sun will warm the chill that has crept into peoples heart. We just have to believe." He said smiling gently at her. Eowyn smiled at the comforting words and leaned into him wrapping her arms around him. He rested his head on hers and smiled glancing over at Ava. She had looked away as tears welled in her eyes once more.
'What is wrong with me!' She screamed in her mind, utterly confused by the raised emotions. 'Maybe its my fear of losing the one I love out of my own stupidity.' She sighed heavily and left the balcony, giving the two their privacy.
Nearly a week later, Ava had hardly eaten anything. The daily up heaving continued much to her frustration, making her too weary to do much. She remained in the healers quarters not feeling welcome in Boromir's room. The healers forced medicine down her throat to try to heal the bug she had but nothing worked.
The army was finally entering through the gate on the 8th morning. Ava wrapped the blanket around her and walked out to see them. She remained hidden and searched for Boromir. She still loved him though he had stopped loving her. She still wanted to know if he was alright. It worried her when she hadn't seen him yet, making her stomach roll again. She winced and froze seeing Aragorn and Legolas with Gimli enter through the gate. She smiled seeing they were unharmed. Finally Boromir enter through the gate. She sighed with relief seeing he was safe and without injury. His face still held an upset expression. His eyes swept over the crowd. She melted into it and away to her bed at the healers before he could spot her.
~TBC~