Chapter 20: Healing Hearts... The Fall of Faramir

*Long chapter ahead! The gif below pretend it's Asteria and Faramir*

As the night carried on, Asteria found herself on a balcony surrounded by the structure of Gondor, a fountain could be heard behind her as she closed her eyes; deep in her thoughts as her heart yearned to see Legolas "I miss you my love..." she said softly as steps could be heard behind her. She turned and saw Faramir with his arms clasped behind his back; a smile streamed on his face "I did not mean to disturb you my lady.." He said softly as he drew near. She gave him a kind smile "You did not my lord. I am in my own thoughts" She turned back looking over towards Mordor; watching the fire sky light up and seeing the Nazgul flying overhead.

Faramir made his way and took a place next to her sighing "I wanted to thank you" he said softly as she looked at him and in turn him looking at her "For helping me and my men, it was brave of you" referring to when she defended them from the Nazgul as she nodded "I would have done what anyone else had done if they had the power to" She could see Faramir's eyes were filled with a feeling that she was familiar but with Legolas as she turned away taking a deep breath. "It's very rare you see a maiden fighting, let alone an elf maiden" he said as he turned away towards the fountain; putting a hand in the water.

Asteria turned looking at him "You must not have seen many elves then..." She chuckled lightly as he laughed himself staring at the water. She could sense the turmoil in his heart "You miss him... Boromir..." The name snapped him out of his thoughts at he looked at her sadly giving her a small nod. "You fought with him I hear... You were part of the fellowship" he said as he walked back towards her as she nods to him "Yes, he fought with honor. If it wasn't for him, I'm afraid myself and two little hobbits would have perished" her eyes looked down sadly as she took a deep breath "I did not see him pass... Me and my two companions were taken... I was told when I rejoined with Mithrandir"

Faramir stopped in front of her; lifting a hand to her face as he made her look at him "My lady.. your eyes carry so much grief, how can I ease your heart?" She smiled at him as she pulled away from his touch; his eyes were full of longing as she shook her head slightly at him "I cannot give you what you seek. I cannot give you love that were to replace your father's misuse of love..." she said sadly as he stepped back a bit "It's because I am a man, is it not?"

Asteria looked sadly at Faramir as she gave him a small smile "No my lord... My heart belongs to another, someone I cherish deeply with all my heart" her voice sounded kind and it eased Faramir as he nodded "Forgive me... I did not mean-" he started to speak as she cut him off taking his hands in her; in a short moment she saw a vision, he was looking at a figure with long blonde hair, the woman's face could not be seen but she knew who it was and she smiled as she broke out of her trance "Do not be sorry... Your heart will find love. Sooner than you think. So have hope my dear Faramir" she said softly placing a hand on his cheek as he gave her a smile.

*her vision*

"You speak as if you know" he said softly as she pulled away from him giving him a smile "In a way, I have the ability to see the future of what could pass or what will.. Not as strong as my mother though" she says as she walks past him then turns "Have hope.. I bid you goodnight my lord" and with that she was gone leaving Faramir in his thoughts.

Time Skip to Morning

Pippin on his knees before the steward's chair. Faramir stands back watching the proceedings as Asteria was standing by a column watching the so called 'allegiance to Denethor' her hood draped over her head as she stood quietly. "Here do I swear fealty and service to Gondor in peace or war, in living or dying, from –" Pippin hesitates over the words as Denethor had a kind smile on his face "from this hour henceforth until my lord release me or death take me." Pippin finished as Denethor stood and approaches him "And I shall not forget it nor fail to reward that which is given" he offers Pippin his ring on his finger, as Pippin he kisses the ring. Denethor lifts Pippin's face by the chin "Fealty with love-" he says as he turns and walks to the table near them "Valor with honor. Disloyalty with vengeance" he turns looking at Faramir as he took a seat at the table to help himself to food. Asteria watched closely in silence; she promised Gandalf to keep her silence if needed.

"I do not think we should so lightly abandon the outer defenses. Defenses that your brother long held intact." Denethor said as he started to put food on his plate. "What would you have me do? Faramir asked, afraid of the response "I will not yield the river and Pellenor unfought. Osgiliath must be retaken" Faramir looked down then back at his father "My lord... Osgiliath is overrun..." Asteria fought hard to contain her temper, Denethor was blind as she listened to him continue to speak to Faramir with such hatred "Much must be risked in war. Is there a Captain here who still has the courage to do his lord's will?"

Pippin looked at Denethor then back to where Asteria was a she shook her head to not say a word as he nodded. Faramir's face looked heartbroken by his father's words "You wish now that our places had been exchanged. That I had died and Boromir had lived" his words full of pain as Asteria made her way silently out the door, she could not listen anymore. The world of men always confused her on how some families treat each other. She never experienced this as she met up with Gandalf and waited "Is everything alright my dear?" he asked as she looked to him "Yes... I just couldn't listen to Denethor's venomous words anymore"

After some time, the soldiers of Minas Tirith are leaving to go and try to retake Osgiliath as Denethor has ordered. Faramir leads his men. The people are upset to see them go. They throw flowers under the horses hooves. Asteria follows Gandalf as he tries to stop Faramir "Faramir! Faramir!" he shouts as they pushed through the crowd towards him "Your father's will has turned to madness. Do not throw away your life so rashly" Faramir's horse still carried on as he spoke in return " Where does my allegiance lie if not here? This is the city of the men of Numenor. I will gladly give my life to defend her beauty, her memory, her wisdom." He says as he trots away on the horse. Hearing the pain in his voice Asteria spoke up "Your father loves you Faramir..." she shouted to him as she stood next to Gandalf whispering to herself "He will remember it before the end..."

Faramir leads the two hundred mounted knights through the gates of Minas Tirith and across the Pellenor fields towards the ruins of Osgiliath. Asteria Gandalf watch as they see the knights get closer and closer; they both knew that they would not stand a chance. "I should have gone with them; I could have tried to help" she said softly as Gandalf turned to her "No my dear. I would not have wished for that. Nor could Legolas..." the name snapped her out of her thoughts as she looked to Gandalf "I do not think he could live with himself if something happened to you... Do not feel as if everything is out of your reach to save.." he gave her a soft smile as she nodded and looks towards Osgiliath "We must prepare.. I will need you as a leader here.." he said softly as she nodded again "You have my sword Gandalf. To the end" She looked at him; her face full of determination as she smiled at him.

Time Skip

With the fall of Faramir, the orcs now attack Minas Tirith. They are approaching the walls with their siege engines. They could be seen cranking back their catapults. Gandalf told Asteria she needed to be a leader for these men, she accepted as she wore her fighting attire, her bow in hand standing among some other few archers. The men were reluctant at first; but understood that she was a warrior, a fighter that was in the fellowship. She could hear "Flee! Flee! Flee for your lives!" It was Denethor shouting as the men started to get scared and move from their posts "Stay to your posts!" Asteria shouted as she pushed her way through the men; her voice was an echo "Stay to your posts! Defend the wall! Return to your posts men!" she shouted as she could hear Gandalf's voice carry over the winds "Prepare for battle!"

Boulders continue to fly back and forth between the two armies. The Ring-wraiths fly towards Minas Tirith. They swoop down over the city attacking the soldiers. The Witch King knocks some soldiers off a bridge. The soldiers shelter inside away from him. Asteria and Pippin are running he pulls off his helmet and holds his head screaming as the Ring-wraiths screech. The sound didn't bother Asteria so much as she grabbed Pippin and pulled him close to her for comfort. The Ring-wraiths swoop down on the soldiers, picking them up and dropping them back down to kill them. She could see Gandalf near them as he shouted "Hold them back! Do not give into fear! Stand your ground. FIGHT!"

A catapult releases and the masonry smashes into the top of a siege engine, scattering orcs. The Ring-wraiths continue to harass the soldiers from above. They knock off catapults and pick up many soldiers to drop them down again. Masonry falls all about the city. Pippin panics and is knocked over by the bigger people. "Pippin go back to the Citadel please!" She said as she ran. Archers release their arrows towards the siege engines from the walls.

"Not at the towers! Aim for the trolls, kill the trolls!" Asteria shouted as she closed in near Gandalf. The archers adjust their aim downwards and continue to fire as Asteria joins them quickly shooting arrows off. "Bring them down!" she shouted at they continued to fire. One of the siege engines reaches the wall. A door falls down onto the top of the battlements and many orcs emerge fighting. Archers continue to defend and shoot the orcs. Some orcs try an assault on the gate. They run towards it with a battering ram. Many are slaughtered by arrows. The battering ram has no effect on the gate.

Asteria quickly moves down to where the gate is as she met with Gandalf "You must hide with Pippin my dear... It is dangerous" he said to her, his face full of fear and concern for her as she shook her head pulling her sword back out and placing her bow on her back in a flash "I will not hide Gandalf... It's not in me" He nodded as he shouted "Fight them back!" encouraging the men.

Asteria turns and sees Pippin looking confused " Dear one! Go back to the Citadel" Pippin looked at her "They called us out to fight" He looks bemused. Another siege engine arrives at the wall, the gate opens and orcs emerge fighting. Some run towards Pippin who looks terrified but he doesn't react. Asteria jumps and places herself in front of Pippin. As she fights off the orcs "This is no place for a hobbit!" she fights more orcs and kills them. As one approaches Asteria from behind Pippin finally reacts.

He draws his weapon and stabs the orc, killing him dead. He looks at his blood smeared sword in shock. "Guard of the Citadel indeed!" She smiles at Pippin as he looked back at her with his eyes smoldering "Now back up the hill quickly!" she said to him as he turns away and runs up the steps with his sword in hand. She prayed that Rohan would come soon; that she would see Legolas again.

2250 words!

*Surprise bitches! Ohhhhhhh another chapter! how special are yall?! thank you so much for reading and voting. it means alot!*