**Chapter 13**

***Saffy's POV***

"Frodo has passed beyond my sight." Gandalf's voice was filled with concern as he spoke. "The darkness is deepening."

We were currently occupying the throne room of Minas Tirith, while I mostly listened to the others speaking of what was to come. The air in the room was thick with a combination of fear and determination. That we had won the battle outside of the walls seemed to have passed into memory already.

"If Sauron had the ring we would know it." Aragorn replied, he seemed to be the one with the most faith that we could win.

"It is only a matter of time. He has suffered a defeat, yes, but behind the walls of Mordor our enemy is regrouping."

A scoff sounded from the bench that Gimli was occupying, he had been making his way through his second plate of food but it seemed he wanted his input taken into consideration.

"Let him stay there. Let him rot. Why should we care?" Gimli declared, his voice seemed to contain some hurt in it. It was buried beneath his gruff manner, but I felt that perhaps Gimli was not as unaffected by Di's departure as he made us believe.

"Because 10,000 orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom." Gandalf stated severely.

There was a twinge of amusement in me, that most people would be totally fine with having something blocking the path to the mountain of fire, but not us.

"I've sent him to his death." The wizard commented quietly to himself, regret heavy in his voice.

"No. There is still hope for Frodo." Aragorn spoke strongly as he turned to face Gandalf. "He needs time and safe passage across the plains of Gorgoroth. We can give him that."

"How?" Gimli questioned, his face scrunching in thought around the pipe in his mouth.

"Draw out Sauron's armies. Empty his lands. Then we gather our full strength and march on the black gate." Aragorn's plan came out calmly.

Yet the reaction that it received was not the same, there was a choking sound as Gimli swallowed the smoke from his pipe. A look of shock and concern flashed across Eomer's face.

"We cannot achieve victory through strength of arms."Eomer said.

"Not for ourselves. But we can give Frodo his chance if we keep Sauron's eye fixed upon us. Keep him blind to all else that moves." Aragorn's voice picked up a lilt of amusement.

"A diversion." Legolas stated plainly.

The statement settled over the room, leaving a moment for contemplation. Then Gimli broke the silence.

"Certainty of death, small chance of success," He exclaimed dimly before continuing. "what are we waiting for?"

A laugh bubbled from my lips at this, which I attempted to cover up quickly. "Best decision making I've ever heard."

I received a discomforting look from Eomer, while the others looked at me with amusement. Finally, Gandalf broke the silence which had fallen after my comment.

"Sauron will suspect a trap. He will not take the bait." Gandalf argued to Aragorn.

"Oh, I think he will." Aragorn replied, a mischievous smirk appearing on his face.

With that Aragorn strode out of the throne room, leaving a wake of confusion.

**Deirdre's POV**

I was bored. Mordor was probably the worst place to be for excitement. It was all just a waiting game now, waiting until the fellowship marched the armies of men to the Black Gate. The waiting drove a sense of apathy through me, as well as annoyance that there was nothing for me to do. It caused my anger to surge at the fellowship, burning heat at my throat.

A knock sounding at the door pulled me from my thoughts. I pulled the door open to reveal Morwen standing before me. She looked somewhat shaken, her face paler than its already light tone.

"The mouth wishes to speak with you, my lady. Though I feel I must warn you of his temper." She informed me.

"Thank you, Morwen." I responded, stepping away from the door so that she could enter the room and close the door.

I walked over to the chest which held my blades, flipping it open and fingering the belt.

"Are you not going to speak with him?" she questioned, fear evident in her voice.

"I will," I returned, fastening the belt around my waist so that the blades hung at my sides. "But I will not go unarmed and weak."

She nodded her head and held the door open for me, while I walked through the entry and made my way to the council chamber. Waiting within was the mouth, he was facing away from the doorway, but obviously clutching something within his hands.

"There was a creature captured at the tower of Cirith Ungol. But he was rescued by another, leaving a trail of bodies behind them. This was left behind." He informed me, tossing a shimmering shirt onto the table. "Care to explain why our borders were invaded."

A hint of shock and pain shot through my chest at the sight of the shining material. It was something that I had seen once before, but on the core of the ringbearer. After that moment though, I recovered my emotions and buried them away.

"Two hobbits broke away from the expedition to destroy the ring of power: the ringbearer and his companion. They bring the ring within our grasp in hopes of destroying the object. Does this truly surprise you?"

"And how do you propose we stop them. Seeing as the only token we have left of them is a corselet." He growled out, anger seeping from his tone and grinding among his teeth.

"You will see in time, Captain. For the moment however, hold onto that shirt. You will be amazed at the pain it will be able to bring."

With that comment I strode out of the council room, leaving behind an irritated Mouth. But at least I left with a smirk on my face.

***End Chapter 13***

So really sorry about not updating sooner. I know that there is no real excuse for it. So I'm just going to try and update more often.

Please Read and Review.