Chapter 28

The City of Gondor
The orc army slowly approached the walls of the White city, their devices of destruction moving with them. In front of the approaching mass moved a single shape coming towards to city gates.
"Open the gates!"
A horse was led through the gap, dragging a soldier who was pierced by arrows. Faramir.
Outside the walls the machinery of war could be heard in motion, cogs grinding.
A stretcher was brought and Faramir's motionless form was brought to the palace steps.
"Quick! Hurry!"
Alerted by the guards, the steward and his staff came running, Celandine and Pippen with them.
Celandine's heart was in her mouth. It was clear the gentle prince was gravely hurt. Dead, perhaps.
"Faramir! Say not that he has fallen." Denethor descended on his son as they placed his litter on the ground.
"They were outnumbered" An official reported. "None survived"
Despair clutched at everyone's heart. Denethor stumbled back "my sons are spent. My line has ended"
Whilst everyone stood by in respect Pippen started forward. Celandine reached for him but wasn't fast enough. Perceiving some minute stirring, he placed his hand on his forehead.
"Wat es it Pip?"
"He's alive!"
"What?!"
The Steward's grief was consuming him "The House of Stewards has failed"
"He needs medicine, my lord!" Pippen turned to the steward, desperate.
Celandine hovered, feeling useless. Why wasn't the Steward listening? He just stood there, railing madly at unseen phantasms.
"My line has ended!" he whined.
"My lird!" Celandine cried.
He made no sign that he could hear them, gazing instead over the wall at the dark swirling clouds and muttering to himself. In the distance, masonry crumbled and screams rang out. The city was falling down!
"Abandon your posts!"
They seemed to be trapped in some kind of nightmare. The steward had gone made, armies were slaughtering everyone, tearing apart the city with their siege machines.
"Flee! Flee for your lives!"
The people below hearing the panic in their Stewards voice made them even more fearful of the fate that they were sure to meet. This sending them scrambling from their posts, with nowhere to run to.
However in the courtyard all were still and silent in a sense of disbelief, as Denethor continued to mumble and yell.
Celandine and Pippin shared a glance as they began to rise and take the advice of the crazed Steward, all thought of Faramir gone from their minds. However both stopped at the sight of Gandalf who strode briskly across the courtyard, giving the hobbit's a look that clearly told them to stay put, before he continued on his way towards Denethor.
Upon reaching the crazed Steward, Gandalf raised his staff and gave it a hard swing hitting the other man hard upon the head. All were silent as they watched on as the leader of their city took two more blows one to the stomach and back before he fell to the ground with a loud groan.
Gandalf looked down at the other man with a look of disgust before turning to his audience "Prepare for battle" he commanded taking control of the situation.
Gandalf called for his horse and quickly mounted before taking off into the lower parts of the city.
* * *

Celandine and Pippin were quick to arm themselves and take off in the direction that Gandalf had left, wanting to help defend the city.
The pair trailed after the soldiers of Gondor not able to keep up with the brisk pace of the longer legged men. Celandine looked up and opened her mouth in shock and fear "Dragons!" she screamed in terror. Every pair of eyes in hearing distance shot to the sky.
Pippin gulped "Those aren't dragons…those are Ringwraiths"
"Wha?"
"There's no time. I'll explain later."
Without another word the pair of hobbits took off again through the city trying their best not to look up. The shrieking of the Wraiths and the beasts that they rode, piercing through the soldiers eardrums, rippling through their bones and churning the blood.
The sounds had all taking cover and holding their ears in attempt to make the pain it causes stop.
Parts of the city fell around them, making the hobbits jump from harms away, Celandine yelled in fright grabbing hold of Pippins arm.
The stunned hobbits stumbled to the outer wall where Gandalf was hurling commands at the fighting men.
"Peregrin Took! Go back to the Citadel!"
"They'd called us out to fight." Pippin spoke sounding dazed and confused, coming out of his daze when orcs suddenly appeared from over the walls. Celandine once again took hold of Pippins arm, as am orc advanced on them.
The wizard let loose a battle cry before leaping in front of the frightened hobbits, defeating his foe in a matter of moments.
"This is no place for a hobbit" he spoke taking on more orcs as they continued to come forward. The hobbits seeing a threat before the wizards drew their blades and launched forward piercing the orc, beneath the ribs on either side piercing its lungs.
Gandalf smiled down at his two hobbit companions "I should not have doubted your bravery" he addressed them both before turning his attention to Pippin
"Guard of the Citadel indeed. Now, back, up the hill. Quickly. Quick!" Needing no other instructions the hobbits took off up the stairs towards the Citadel.