I'm back! So sorry for the long update, my health hasn't been the greatest and with the holiday season, things have been hectic for the last few months. This chapter is a little shorter, that is intentional, and I have no intention of giving up this story until I feel it is complete! I still have a few tricks in store!

The rest of the day passed into a fitful sleep for Ezra and Sabine, upon waking their situation had only grown more dire.

More than a hundred thousand Orcs had now passed Osgiliath and were massing before the city, the first time Sabine and Ezra saw them they wished for a thousand Stormtroopers instead.

Ezra, Sabine, and Pippin were with Gandalf as he went to implore Denethor to listen, they were near the Tower of Ecthelion when they heard the sound of frantic feet behind them, "Over here, quick!" was heard as ten men carrying a litter came into view upon the stairs.

Sabine and Ezra started when they realized that upon the litter lay a wounded Faramir, an encounter two days ago came to mind…

Flashback… Sabine and Ezra were upon the wall over the great Gate of Minas Tirth, watching as Gandalf came to the aid of some riders who were being attacked by creatures that left Ezra shivering from the painful ripples in the Force they caused, though Gandalf's light and the departure of the creatures caused the feeling to fade, it still lingered as an aching soreness in the Force.

They descended to the entrance plaza when they heard the gate open and soon met with Gandalf, who introduced them to the young man Faramir, brother of Boromir, the thought left a pang of sadness in the pair's hearts.

They were about ready to ask why Faramir was beyond the safety of the city when Ezra noticed the intent stare Faramir leveled on Pippin. Pippin noticed as well, and looked uncomfortable.

"Faramir" said Gandalf slowly "This is not the first halfling to have crossed your path…"

Faramir shook his head mutely

Pippin's face grew ecstatic and he asked, "You've seen Frodo and Sam?"

Faramir nodded and a surging beacon of hope burned its way through all of their hearts, the quest had not yet died!

"Where, when?!" questioned Gandalf

"In Ithillien, not two days ago…" Faramir answered

The hopeful sensation grew, but at Faramir's next words it waned.

"Gandalf… they've taken the road to the Morgul Vale."

Gandalf's smile faded "And then the path of Cirith Ungol?" he asked

Faramir nodded again

"What does that mean?" asked Pippin

"Faramir, tell me everything…" said Gandalf

On their way to report to Lord Denethor Faramir filled them in on the black danger that Frodo and Sam now faced, and Gandalf spoke of the spawn of Ungoliant that they would have to face, as if the mundane hazards of Orcs were not enough!

The Citadel Guard stopped Sabine (who had shot the Steward), and Ezra from going inside, much to Sabine's chagrin. So they had returned to the dwelling they shared with Gandalf and Pippin.

End of Flashback… Now Faramir looked entirely devoid of life, a crude Orcin arrow protruding from his shoulder, though Ezra could sense that some small vital spark still lingered inside him.

Denethor began to wail and scream, and upon seeing the orc horde arrayed against the city, which at that moment began to catapult enormous boulders against the walls, Denethor's psyche cracked irreparably, he shouted in great anger about how Theoden had betrayed them, how Rohan had deserted them and he shouted, for all the city to hear, "FLEE! FLEE FOR YOUR LIVES!"

Then Gandalf hit him in the face with his staff, Gandalf's countenance a mask of disgust, then he bent Denthor over with a blow to the waist then knocked him to the ground with another to his back.

"Yes!" Sabine whispered, having had enough of the selfish steward upon their first meeting.

She and Ezra fist-bumped then Gandalf yelled, for all the city to hear, "PREPARE FOR BATTLE!"

The two offworlders joined Gandalf as he rode down the cobblestone streets, shouting "To the Walls! Defend the Walls!"

Once the defenders were all arrayed on top of the Great outer wall of Minas Tirth, and Ezra and Sabine broke into grins as Gandalf yelled "Send these foul beasts to the ABYSS!"

At that shout the great Trebuchet batteries of Minas Tirth began to fire, crushing scores of Orcs below with their fury, the battle looked to be on a level where hope could be maintained, then the Nazgul arrived…

With shrieks that sent men scrambling for cover the Nazgul upon their Fell Beasts dropped from the sky, tearing apart trebuchets and ripping men off the parapets with their claws.

Sabine was aiming at one nearing their position when she noticed Ezra, he was gripping the sides of his head, his face a countenance of extreme pain. She went to shake his shoulder, when the Nazgul's cry went out.

The Nazgul, being a being of death itself, was a wound in the Force and being so near to it gave Ezra extreme pain, the force of it's scream however, which was a pure embodiment of its torturous existence, was too much for the young padawn and he passed out.

Sabine, who herself was not unshaken by the Nazgul's cry, saw Ezra collapse and hauled him into a nearby building, slapping his face a few times, "Can this get any worse" she mumbled.

Then Ezra moaned "Sabine", his flicking back open before he passed back into unconsciousness.

Sabine blew a hair out of her face and said, "Hope the others are here soon…"