So here we are, on the eve of many battles. Oh I had a wonderful time writing this chapter. It was so much fun. You will notice that a good chunk of this chapter is spent with our small group in Minas Tirith. It was a blast to change a few things, and do some character building as well.
Enjoy the chapter.
Khuzdul. Sindarin. Ojibwe.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hobbit or LOTR.
In Minas Tirith...
Since the day of lighting the beacon Pippin, Gandalf, and Toril have been exploring the White City. Well, more like Gandalf was giving Pippin and Toril a tour of the majestic city. So far, Toril had discovered that she rather enjoyed the ale house, while Pippin enjoyed the cities many food stalls. However, on this particular day, their little adventure of exploring the city was cut short. There were shouts that Osgiliath was under attack, and the sound of the Nazgul was echoing across the plains.
"Toril. You need to stay here, in the city." Gandalf shouts to her as he places Pippin up on to Shadowfax.
"Why? I can fight!" Toril exclaims in frustration on being told to sit out.
"Because," Gandalf growls out at her as he climbs up onto his horse. "if the Nazgul were to find out that one from the royal house of Durin is here, they would stop at nothing to capture you. And use you to force Erebor to its knees. Is that what you want? To see your family enslaved because you want to fight?"
Toril lets out a sigh of defeat with hearing the wizard's words. "As you wish. I will stay here, near the gate. That way I will know that you both have returned safely." Since she has to play the part of being Pippin's wife, while in this city of man, she might as well use the power that it gives her.
"Agreed." Gandalf replies before having Shadowfax take off out of the stables with maddening speed.
Toril runs after them, not having to worry about her dress's skirt slowing her down. The night before she had cut to lines into the fabric of the skirts that stopped at the mid-thigh length. This would allow her the movability that she needs to keep up with the wizard's pace. She also had mended some old trouser pants so that she can wear them under the skirts. Today's dress consists of a dark gray skirt, black pants, a black outer corset, and a pale gray blouse under the corset.
As she races after the white horse, she watches as the gates ahead open up to allow him to leave the city. Toril, however, rushes to a guard house that sits at the base of the rampart's stairs. She runs past the guards, and up the stairs to the rampart of the wall. Reaching her destination, she notices a small gap in the short, stone wall of the rampart. Toril uses that hole to slide her black boot covered left foot in, and lifts herself up to see over the top of the wall.
Gandalf and Pippin ride straight for a group of horses that has fallen under attack by the Nazgul. Many of the riders of these horses are being picked up and dropped to the ground by the Nazgul. However, there are still a few that are still on their horses.
Seeing that the men are in extreme danger, Gandalf lifts his staff up and summons light to shine out from the top. This light hits the Nazgul, causing them to lose focus on the men bellow. They screech in protest to the light, but refuse to go anywhere near it. This light protects the men till Gandalf can join up with them, and from there head back to the city.
The gates are opened up to allow the riders inside. Toril, who was watching from the rampart, quickly climbs down from her spot and rushes down the stairs just as the horses enter the white city. She runs down the stairs, sometimes skipping a step, in her hurry to reach her two friends. Once she enters the entrance yard, she hurries through the horses.
"Pippin! Gandalf!" She calls out, but the sound of the horses and men drown out her calls.
"Mithrandir!" a man calls out from the group of men atop horses.
Toril, hearing the elven nickname for Gandalf, moves to find the owner of the voice with the hope that she will find her friends as well.
"They broke through our defenses." The man says just as Toril finds the owner. "They've taken the bridge and the west bank. Battalions of Orcs are crossing the river."
"It is as Lord Denethor has foreseen." A blond man calls out from the growing crowd.
"Foreseen and done nothing." Gandalf shouts at the man as he moves his arm that holds his staff.
The man, who is still atop his horse, stars at Pippin which has Toril feeling protective. She moves quickly to stand in front of Gandalf's horse and gives the man a hard stare.
"Faramir?" the white wizard asks the man as he now notices that the man is starring at Pippin. "This is not the first Halfling to have crossed your path." Gandalf begins to realize that Faramir has seen another Halfling before.
"No." Faramir replies to Gandalf.
"You've seen Frodo and Sam?" Pippin asks the man, hoping to hear the answer he wishes to hear.
Faramir nods his head to Pippin, but is taken aback when Toril decides to ask him a question from her place before Shadowfax.
"Where? When?" Toril asks impatiently from where she stands.
This man, Faramir, looks down and finally notices the young lady's presence. He is surprised to see such a short female; especially one with elven ears and copper colored hair.
"In Ithilien, my lady." Faramir answers while trying hard not to gawk at her. "Not two days ago." He looks away from Toril before speaking to Gandalf. "Gandalf, they're taking the road to the Morgul Vale."
"And then the pass of Cirith Ungol." Gandalf says with worry.
"What does that mean? What's wrong?" Pippin asks as he notices that Gandalf has gone quite stiff on the horse.
"Faramir, tell me everything. Tell me all you know." Gandalf says with building trepidation at the thought of Frodo and Sam taking such a dangerous road.
On their way to brief Denethor about the events at Osgiliath, Faramir tells Gandalf everything. Taking Frodo and Sam hostage, learning about how Boromir was succumbing to the ring's power, and of Gollum traveling with Frodo and Sam. Once they reached the courtyard with the white tree, Gandalf and the other two will be waiting for Faramir once he is done talking with Denethor.
Only Faramir entered the audience hall and began telling Denethor about the fall of Osgiliath. However, Denethor was none too pleased about it.
"This is how you would serve your city?" Denethor growls out at Faramir. "You would risk its utter ruin?"
"I did what I judged to be right." Faramir states to his lord, and father.
"What you judged to be right." Denethor says with malice in his voice. "You sent the Ring of Power into Mordor in the hands of a witless Halfling! It should have been brought back to the Citadel to be kept safe. Hidden. Dark and deep in the vaults, not to be used. Unless at the uttermost end of need."
Faramir, seeing that even his father is wanting the ring, know realizes just how easily men are corrupted by it. "I would not use the Ring. Not if Minas Tirith were falling in ruin and I alone could save her."
Denethor, hearing his son's words but not understanding them, decides to give a low, verbal blow to Faramir's self-esteem. "Ever you desire to appear lordly and gracious as a king of old. Boromir would have remembered his father's need. He would have brought me a kingly gift."
"Boromir would not have brought the Ring." Faramir says as he remembers what Frodo had told him about Boromir being corrupted by its power. "He would have stretched out his hand to this thing and taken it, he would've fallen."
"You know nothing of this matter!" Denethor shouts at his youngest son.
Hearing, and seeing, his father's want for the ring Faramir kept speaking the truth. "He would have kept it for his own. And when he returned you would not have known your son."
Denethor, who is enraged at this point with Faramir's words, rises up from his seat. "Boromir was loyal to me! Not some wizard's pupil!"
Both father and son look at each other. One with disdain, the other with love even after being told hateful words. Yet, the older of the two makes a decision that will alter their relationship, possibly even sever ties, for good.
"Leave me!" Denethor growls out at Faramir with anger.
Faramir does as his father says and leaves the audience hall. He walks into the courtyard and sees that only the Hobbit and the female are still waiting for him. The wizard, however, has once again disappeared.
The next morning, Toril and Pippin find themselves in a hallway near the main Audience hall. Pippin is dressed in a stately manner, with an over tunic of dark navy blue—almost black—with a white tree on it. Toril is wearing a more fanciful dress made out of a red velvet-like material which clung to every curve of her body, including her hips. The skirt of the dress falls to the ground in a straight A-line fashion since she couldn't find any small hoop underskirts to put under it.
Sitting on a bench, Toril and Pippin are waiting to be announced to Denethor and for Pippin to give his vow of servitude.
"What were you thinking, Peregrin Took." Pippin says to himself with worry.
"Yes. Just what were you thinking? Offering your service to this man." Toril growled out in frustration at still having to play the 'married couple' while in this city. "At least in Erebor, you wouldn't have to prostrate yourself before my uncle. What service could you give this horrible man?"
"It was well done." A man says as he comes near them.
Pippin hops off of the bench and stands before Faramir, while Toril slowly moves off of the bench and gives Faramir a respectable curtsy.
"A generous deed should not be checked with cold counsel." Faramir says to Pippin before bowing to Toril in return. Gandalf had told Faramir who Toril was and from what kingdom she was a princess of. "You are to join the tower guard, which is a place of honor to serve."
Faramir gives Toril a look which she replies with a nod. He knows that she is a princess from the dwarf kingdom of Erebor, and since this hobbit is her husband—Gandalf hasn't corrected anyone on this notion—he was to receive a place of honor befitting a consort of a princess.
"I thank you for your discretion, Lord Faramir." Toril says to the man. She knows that he too is also under the assumption that everyone else is, and so she too must play her part in the lie. "I was worried that your father would send him off to battle."
"Indeed. Though I am curious about how a hobbit won the affections of a half elf, half dwarf princess of Erebor." Faramir gives Pippin a curious look.
"It was as easy as lighting a firework." Pippin says as he stumbles over his words. He still doesn't know how to lie very well to those with power, and quickly tries to change the subject. "I didn't think they would find and livery that would fit me."
Faramir get an impish grin on his face as he speaks to Pippin. "One belonged to a young boy of the city. A very foolish one who wasted many hours slaying dragons instead of attending to his studies."
"This was yours?" Pippin asks, delighted to know just whose clothes he was wearing. Yet he also felt honored by the gesture if it were true.
"Yes, it was mine." Faramir replies with a grin. "My father had it made for me."
"Well. I'm taller than you were then. Though I'm not likely to grow anymore, except sideways." Pippin says jokingly.
Faramir chuckles at Pippin's words, as does Toril who is surprised to hear Pippin joke about himself.
"It never fitted me either." Faramir chuckles out to Pippin before his face changes to a serious look. "Boromir was always the soldier. They were so alike, he and my father. Proud. Stubborn, even. But strong."
"You have strength, Faramir." Toril says to the man. "Perhaps of a different kind from your brother and father. Maybe it comes from your mother."
"Your father will see it, one day." Pippin says, taking his que from Toril.
Before Faramir can say anything to these two small ones, a guard comes forth and states that Denethor is ready to see Pippin now. Toril gives Faramir a curtsy, while Pippin gives a quick bow. Faramir returns their gestures with a deep bow before stepping away to allow the two of them to pass. He watches as they follow the guard.
Inside of the Audience hall, Denethor sits on his chair as Pippin kneels before him. Toril is standing off to the right, a few feet behind Pippin as a show of support for her 'husband'. However, if Toril had her way she would have knocked Pippin out for offering this man his service, and perhaps given this pompous steward a good tanning of his backside to correct his treatment of his people. It is only the thought of the coming battle, and maybe herself getting told off by her uncle Fili, that keeps her temper at bay.
"Here I do swear," Pippin says once Faramir arrives, as well as other members of Denethor's council. "fealty and service to Gondor, in peace or war, in living or dying, from this hour henceforth until my lord releases me, or death takes me."
"And I shall not forget it." Denethor says to Pippin before looking past him to give Toril a smirk. "Even your wife's family shall not forget this pledge of your service to me. Nor fail to reward that which is given."
"You unimaginable bastard." Toril whispers softly to herself so no one can hear her. Denethor's noting of her family means he plans to use this fake marriage as a means to get some kind of power over Erebor. 'I will need to write to Adad and Naneth about all this. So that they can warn Erebor about this man's threat, if Gondor survives Mordor's attack.' Toril thinks to herself.
Toril watches as Pippin kisses a ring that sits on Denethor's hand, and she has to suppress a growl that was starting to build in her throat. She knows that, like Pippin, she too will have to kiss this man's ring if she is to keep up the charade of them being married. Thankfully, Denethor doesn't even come towards her.
"Fealty with love. Valor with honor." Denethor says out loud as he walks away from Pippin and towards a small table with food on it. "Disloyalty with vengeance."
At this point, Denethor looks over at Faramir before sitting down at the table. "I do not think we should so lightly abandon the outer defenses. Defenses that your brother long held intact."
Faramir knows what is coming, but asks anyways. "What would you have me do?"
"I will not yield the river in Pelennor unfought." Denethor replies as he piles food on his plate. "Osgiliath must be retaken."
"My lord, Osgiliath is overrun." Faramir replies back to his father.
Looking over at Faramir, Denethor speaks directly to him as if everyone else in the room has disappeared. "Much must be risked in war. Is there a captain here who still has the courage to do this lord's will?"
Pippin and Toril share a look between themselves at hearing Denethor's words. Toril walks slowly over to Pippin and takes hold of his hand with one of hers. Never before has she seen a father look at his son with such disgust before.
"You wish not that our places had been exchanged." Faramir says, giving words to his father's hidden meaning. "That I had died and Boromir had lived."
"Yes." Denethor says as he raises a chalice up to his lips. "I wish that."
Faramir, hearing his father's true wishes, speaks again to him. "Since you were robbed of Boromir, I will do what I can in his stead."
"No." Toril whispers in shock that Faramir is so willing to go on this suicide mission.
Pippin pulls Toril into a hug as they watch Faramir bow to his father before walking away. Both of them know that what Denethor is asking of Faramir is wrong. Not only is Denethor sending Faramir to his death, but he seems not to care about preserving his bloodline.
"If I should return, think better of me, Father." Faramir says as he turns slightly to look back at Denethor.
What comes next out of Denethor's mouth, has Pippin having to hold Toril back from trying to attack the man.
"That will depend on the manner of your return." Denethor says as he doesn't even watch Faramir leaving the hall.
"You... You... Rukhsul menu!" Toril yells at Denethor while trying to wiggle out of Pippin's arms. She continues to hurl insult after insult, in Khuzdul, at the man; releasing her full dwarven temper at him.
"Silence!" Denethor yells out at Toril and Pippin while rising out of his chair. "You will silence your wife or I will have her placed in the dungeons!"
Pippin pulls Toril to the other side of the hall while trying to keep his hold on her. He has never before witnessed Toril's temper, and from what Gandalf had told him about dwarven tempers, he is unsure if he can help ease Toril's temper.
"Easy now, Tory." Pippin whispers into her ear, praying that she will hear it over her fierce growling. "You need to calm down before you find yourself split up from me and Gandalf."
"That bastard." Toril growls out as she begins to ease up on her trying to escape Pippin's arms. "He is sending Faramir, his own son, on a suicide mission."
"I know." Pippin replies as he places a kiss to Toril's hairline at her temple.
"There is no honor is sacrificing your son's life while you sit and eat." Toril growls out as the tears begin to fall from her eyes. Since meeting Faramir yesterday, Toril has enjoyed getting to know the young man. "This steward has no honor."
"I know, Tory. I know." Pippin whispers into her hair. He too is still in shock from what Denethor had told Faramir. "But you can't allow him to rile you up like this. So please, calm yourself. I need you to stick by my side, remember."
Toril lets her anger drain out of her, along with her tears. She allows Pippin to hold her during all of this, and not once does she try to leave his arms. When she has finally settled down and calm, Toril gently pushes Pippin away from her. She watches as Pippin's hand comes up towards her face and begins to wipe away her tears.
"Tory?" Toril asks Pippin sheepishly.
Pippin's hand freezes against her cheek, and he has to swallow before speaking to her. "You don't like it? My nickname for you?"
Toril lets out a soft chuckle before answering a now worried Pippin. "It just sounds like I belong to the Ri family instead of my own family."
"Shall I pick something else? Like Tor? Or Rilly?" Pippin asks frantically. This sends Toril into another small bout of laughter.
"How about you just keep using my full name." Toril says as she calms her laughter. Since her temper seems to be eased now, Toril takes hold of Pippin's hand that is on her cheek and places a kiss into the palm. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Pippin softly says before Denethor calls out for him. "I am needed. Will you be alright now?"
"Yes." Toril says before releasing Pippin's hand. She watches as Pippin moves towards Denethor, and Toril tries hard not to let her anger at the man rise up again.
Closing her eyes, Toril sends up prayers not only to Mahal, but to Eru as well. She asks them to watch over Faramir, and to bring him back to his home. Not for Denethor's benefit, but for the whole of Gondor's. As the hours pass by, Toril's stomach sinks further, as she prays in silence. She knows that Faramir has most likely left the city by now, and is on his way to meet the enemy at Osgiliath.
"Can you sing, Master Hobbit?" Denethor asks as he greedily takes a bit from the meat that is on his plate.
"Well... yes." Pippin replies after being silent for so long; however, he has been watching Toril from her place by a white stone column in the hall all this time. "At least, well enough for my own people."
"And what of your wife's people?" Denethor asks as he takes a bite out of a grape.
Toril at this point, opens her eyes at the mention of her people. With her constant prayers interrupted, Toril decides to answer the steward's question for Pippin. "They praise him on his voice."
Pippin, hearing Toril's words, continues on with his own. "But my people have no songs for great halls and evil times."
"And why should your songs be unfit for my halls? Especially when your wife's people have heard them. Come, sing me a song." Denethor says, pressing the issue with Pippin.
Pippin, knowing that he can no longer change Denethor's mind, stumbles to find a song. In his trepidation of finding a song worthy of what is going on, a gentle hand takes hold of one of his own. He looks to his right, and sees that Toril has moved to stand next to him. She gives him a small smile, which has Pippin thinking of a song that he remembers his mother once sang to him years ago. Taking a breath, Pippin begins to sing the song.
As Pippin sings his song, Toril watches Denethor to see if any of the words reach him. Like dwarves, hobbits know of the hidden meanings within a songs words. And even though Toril has never heard this song, she understands the meaning behind the words.
Once Pippin has finished with his song, he looks towards the still eating Denethor. He hopes that the man realizes the meaning of the song. A squeeze from Toril's hand lets Pippin know that she understands what his song means. Yet seeing that Denethor is still ignorant of it, causes Pippin to close his eyes in sadness.
At Dunharrow...
It has been a full two days since they had left Edoras and begun collecting what men they were able to get for the upcoming march to Minas Tirith. Many had joined the cause following Théoden, their king, to arms for war. Though, Théoden was eager to reach Dunharrow to see just how many his commanders, and nephew, had brought with them and their call to arms.
Riding into the beginnings of the camp, Théoden is joined by Aragorn, Legolas, and Thorin with his own family at the front of their troops. Oh yes, Théoden was pleased to know that Thorin's small army of dwarves had joined with his own, and were willing to fight side-by-side for this coming battle.
"Make way for the King." A soldier calls out from several feet in front of Théoden and his entourage. "Make way."
While passing further into the growing numbers of men, Théoden can hear the men calling to him and rising up to greet him in respect. In return, Théoden raises his hand to them, to show that he is with his army. Another group of riders enters the encampment from another side, and the riders come towards Théoden and his group.
"My lord. I bring 500 men from the Westfold." Grimmold says to his king.
"Another 300 from Fenmarch, my lord." Another man yells from Theoden's left.
The group keeps moving towards the mountain, where in its face, you can see a winding road that leads to a large indent in the mountain. It is there that Théoden is headed to camp for the night. His own troops, and the dwarves from Thorin's small army, will came at the base of the winding road for the night.
Upon reaching the indent, which is known as Dunharrow, Théoden and the others had disembark from their steeds. Thorin and Inara are shown to a tent that is near Theoden's. Next to theirs is another tent for Kili, his family, and Gimli to share. Aragorn and Legolas plan to share a tent across from Theoden's.
Once their saddle bags have been removed from their steeds, Inara and Thorin begin to unpack and clean off the dust from traveling. Water, from a small source spring is brought to their tent so that they may use it to wash.
"Finally." Inara says with relief as she dunks a rinse cloth into the cool water from the small pail. Wringing most of the water out of the cloth, Inara pulls her sweat sticky hair from the back of her neck, and places the cool cloth there.
Thorin chuckles as Inara lets out a low groan of pleasure from the feel of the cool, damp cloth against her neck. "You should be aware that the others might hear you."
"I don't care." Inara replies to Thorin's teasing.
"Yes well," Thorin says softly as he moves to sit behind Inara on the ground. "we wouldn't want to cause embarrassment for our neighbors with your vocal sounds of pleasure."
Thorin places a kiss against Inara's shirt covered shoulder. She had already removed her light-weight armor yesterday after having a light-headed episode while riding. With the heat of the sun bearing down on them for the past two days, Thorin was not surprised that some of his own men had been feeling light-headed as well.
"I suggest you keep such impure thoughts in your mind, Thorin." Inara teases as she feels several roaming kisses along her shoulder and collarbone.
"It's hard to when such a beauty is before me." Thorin whispers against the side of Inara's neck.
Inara lets out a chuckle and turns her head to give Thorin access to her mouth. She lets Thorin ravish her mouth with many deep kisses. The pair are so lost in their kissing, that neither one hears the hurried steps of someone coming to their tent.
"Thorin! Inara!" Kili yells as he pushes the flap open to their tent and comes inside.
Thorin and Inara pull away from their kissing session, and Thorin presses his forehead into Inara's shoulder. Inara lets out another chuckle before turning her head to the left to see a disheveled looking Kili.
"Can we help you with something?" Inara asks with a smile on her face.
"Thorin. I think you should come see this." Kili says swiftly while trying hard not to bounce with excitement.
Thorin lets out a growled huff against Inara's shoulder, and gives it a playful nip before moving to stand up. Turning towards Kili, Thorin lets out yet another sigh.
"What is it?"
"I think you should come and see for yourself." Kili says gleefully before bounding out of the tent like an excited cat.
Inara lets out a short laugh as she removes the cloth from the back of her neck. "Well, I think we should go see just what has excited our brown eyed puppy." Inara teases as she rises up from the ground. She lets out a low groan as her lower back muscles begin to protest at the movement.
Thorin looks at Inara wearily, wondering if old age symptoms are starting to catch up with his yâsith. Though she looks to be in her late thirties, in the race of men, she is just coming up to being the age of 190 in dwarven years if his memory is correct.
"Are you sure that you are up for it?" Thorin asks cautiously, for he knows just how quick Inara's temper can appear.
"I'm fine, Zahgidiwin. So stop your worrying." Inara huffs out at Thorin as she takes hold of his arm at the elbow. "Now let us go see what Kili wants to show us."
Thorin and Inara exit their tent to see Kili waiting for them, while bouncing on his heels. He gives the two a grin before speaking.
"You're going to like this." Kili leads his uncle and aunt through the rest of the small camp. His destination, the edge that looks down towards the even larger encampment below.
There, at the edge, stands Théoden talking with a familiar dwarf. Neither of the two notice the others approaching, thanks to their conversation. It isn't until Kili runs forwards and bear hugs the dwarf do Thorin and Inara realize who it is.
"Fili!" Thorin shouts as he rushes forwards, totally forgetting that Inara was holding his arm.
Inara, however, had loosened her grip on Thorin's arm when Kili had bear hugged the dwarf. So she wasn't at all surprised when Thorin barreled out of her grip and towards his nephew. Walking towards the three dwarves, Inara gives Théoden a knowing smile since he had to back away to give Thorin room.
"What are you doing here?" Thorin asks Fili upon letting the blond dwarf free from his embrace.
"Last we heard, Erebor was still under siege." Kili practically shouts at his brother.
"We broke the siege well over a week ago, and met up with one of the Rohan Riders only two days ago while trying to reach Edoras. He led us here and from what King Théoden has told me, you all ride for Minas Tirith." Fili answers back with some jubilee in seeing his brother and uncle again.
"How many have you brought with you, Fili?" Inara asks.
"Over a thousand dwarves from Erebor and only fifty from the Iron Hills." Fili says before looking at Thorin with a serious look upon his face. "The Easterlings destroyed the Iron Hills. As well as Esgaroth. Only a few survivors were able to reach Erebor. Thorin, you should also know that Dain died before the gates of Erebor. He was trying to protect Brand's body, and give the remaining lines of our army enough time to retreat into Erebor."
"And the heirs of Brand and Dain?" Thorin asks Fili.
"Thorin Stonehelm is alive and had volunteered to stay behind in Erebor. Brand's son Bard is also safe inside of Erebor with what remains of Dale's people." Fili says.
"What of the Woodland realm?" Tauriel asks as she comes running towards her family with Kelda and Legolas following her.
"They are fighting against a host of goblins at Dol Guldur. I think your win at Helm's Deep is causing Sauron to advance his plans." Fili says to Tauriel. "They were unable to aid us against the Easterlings, or during the siege."
"How many fell?" Frerin asks as he and Durin have somehow snuck up on the group.
"Too many." Fili answers quickly, praying that no one will ask a certain question.
"Anyone we know?" Kili asks, wondering who all was left of his archers.
Fili closes his eyes at Kili asking that most dreaded question, and he can hear everyone fall silent around him.
"Fili? Who was it?" Thorin asks gently, knowing how hard it is to be the bringer of bad news.
"Bofur." Fili says while trying not to let tears build in his eyes. "He tried to protect Balder from a large pike, and was impaled. There was nothing the healers could do, but make him comfortable till he passed."
"How is Aliena holding up?" Inara asks Fili, letting her worry for her daughter show.
"Last I heard, one of the apprentice healers was trying to get her to eat nor will she speak. She isn't herself anymore, Inara. It's like her spirit is gone, but her body is still alive." Fili says to Inara while trying to soften the blow.
Inara closes her eyes and bows her head. "She will most likely force herself to join him in death if that is her wish."
The group becomes quiet at Inara's statement, and none of them speak for a short time as they all try to digest what they have been told. However, a few minutes later a voice comes from the rock path.
"Adad!"
The group turns to see who is calling out for their father. There, upon a battle ram, sits Balder in his armor. Reaching the grassy indent, he hops down from his ram and approaches the group. He kneels before Fili and starts to speak.
"Our soldiers have begun to settle in with the others from Thorin's small army. They have begun to make camp for the night, and I have sent our smiths to help the smiths of men in preparing weapons for the upcoming battle." Balder states in a serious voice before rising up from his kneeling position.
"Very good." Fili says before looking over to Théoden. "Do you take issue with our smiths joining with yours?"
"No, they are most welcome in our camp. As is you and your army, King Fili of Erebor." Théoden says before bowing to Fili and getting a bow in return from Fili.
"Now if you would excuse me," Fili says to Théoden. "I am in need of some food and a place to sleep for the night."
"Then join me in my tent for supper tonight. Then you may regal us all with the story of how you broke the siege of Erebor." Théoden offers to Fili before excusing himself to go speak with his nephew.
Kili, still excited to see his nadad, gives Fili yet another bear hug which causes the King of Erebor to try and headlock his nadadith. The two brothers start to wrestle with each other in a playful manner, while the rest of the family begins to walk towards the small group of tents.
So how many of you did I manage to surprise with Fili, Balder, and an army of Erebor dwarves showing up at Dunharrow? I originally planned for them to arrive on the fields of Pelennor, but I decided that Fili, Balder, and their army needed to join up before then.
Hopefully you all enjoyed this chapter, and thank you all for reading this story. Only a few more chapters are left before this behemoth of a story comes to a beautiful end.
Reviews are loved and cherished.
Selene