Chap. 35 - The White Flower

I sat upon Arroch, in the moonlight staring at Aragorn. I had made my decision.

"I shall stay. As you wish," I lied through my teeth with ease. I felt terrible, but I had made a promise.

Aragorn relaxed, and I dismounted Arroch. He stepped towards me, and hugged me one last time. I blinked away tears. My arm seared with pain as I hugged him. He pulled away and kissed my cheek.

"I shall miss you. Please, do not leave these troops. I won't forgive myself for letting you stay if you leave," Aragorn said. He wiped away a single tear from my eye, and took Brego's reins. Eowyn was peering around the corner, her face shocked and tear streaked. Aragorn slightly smiled, and started to walk towards the road of Dimholt. I watched as the outline of his body stopped, and Legolas and Gimli approached him.

I turned away from the arguing men. Well, elf, man, and dwarf. I pretended to walk away, and retied Arroch's reins to a post. Soldiers and the King gathered and watched Aragorn leave.

To be honest, I was worried I wouldn't see him again. I hid in my tent, and gathered food in a bag. I sharpened my sword in the smithy, and saw a hobbit. Merry?

"Alex! You are alive!" Merry cried, and ran towards me. I hugged him, and Merry looked at my armor.

"I didn't recognize you, dressed up all like a knight! What are you exactly? I'm an esquire of Rohan!" Merry said proudly and puffed out his chest.

"I am a Knight of Gondor," I said proudly as well, but didn't puff out my chest.

"That's an honor!" Merry said.

I nodded my head, "Yes. And to be an esquire of Rohan, that's an honor as well."

Merry smiled a toothy grin, and grabbed his sword, "Lady Eowyn told me I should sharpen this. Can you help me?"

I nodded, and finished sharpening my blade. I sheathed it, and gently took Merry's from him. He watched as sparks flew off of the blade towards him. I laughed, and finished it. Merry took it, and sheathed it, "How's Pippin? Is he well?"

"He was fine when I last saw him. He is a Guard of the Citadel. So he guards the white tree," I said, and pointed to the white tree on my armor.

"Oh. So we are all involved somewhat in this battle?" Merry asked.

"Yes. Everyone is," I said, and turned to the makeshift stables, "I must rest. I will see you soon. Hopefully."

Merry nodded, "Good night, Alex."

I returned to my tent, where I had prepared my food and Arroch's food for the journey. I had plenty of water, and food. I debated whether I should bring Merry, but I didn't want to risk the hobbit's life. He had given up too much in this journey.

I peeked outside my tent. No one was near me. I quickly slung the bag of food around my shoulders, and went as quickly as I could to Arroch. My side hurt as I hooked the food bag onto Arroch's saddle. I mounted him, and looked one last time at the camp. Still, no one was paying attention to me. I sighed with relief, and started to ease Arroch into a trot, when Arroch stopped. What the?

I looked in front of Arroch, and there stood Eowyn. She was glaring at me, "And where do you think you are going, Lady Alex?"

I groaned, "No where that you should know. I have sworn to an oath. And I must go fulfill that promise. And if you would please step out of Arroch's path, for he might trample you. He has helped me crush orcs by stomping on them. So I might suggest, would you kindly move?"

Eowyn huffed, "Why don't you go after Lord Aragorn, and get yourself killed?"

"Oh ho ho! Arroch, move forward please," I exclaimed. Arroch stepped forwards, and Eowyn quickly moved out of the way. I faked a smile, "Thanks lady."

Arroch pounded away, and out of the camp. Men watched as Arroch galloped towards Minas Tirith.

"He.. I mean.. She is leaving as well!," I heard a soldier exclaim. I looked behind me, and Merry was watching me gallop away. He had small tears in his eyes.

"Merry..." I croaked, "I'm sorry!"

Arroch and I reached Minas Tirith within two days. Orc troops were closing in on the White City, so I had to find another entrance. I quickly rode as far as I could around the troops, and found a tunnel with a metal gate in front of it. I could barely see it! Arroch backed up, and i dismounted him quickly. I pushed the gate, but it wouldn't budge. I yelled in frustration, and kicked it. The gate rattled, but stayed put. From further down the tunnel, I heard voices.

"Hey! Down here! Someone! Open this frickin' gate!," I yelled. The voices yelled back, "Shut up, you!"

I raised my eyebrow, "I'm gonna flag down these troops of orcs down here until you open this gate!"

"Aw, Thesor, we don't have enough men! If he does that, we could be dead meat. Open the gate! Those orcs could crush through that like sticks!" a soldier said, and I heard footsteps. They think I'm a man. I better pretend then.

"Arsor! We don't know who this guy is! He could kill us!" Thesor said. They must be brothers. I heard keys jingling as they approached me. Arroch snorted.

"I'm not so sure that he would do that, Thesor. I'm opening the gate!," Arsor said, and unlocked the gate. He seemed young. He nodded, "You may pass, Sir...?"

I mounted Arroch, "Sir Alex."

Thesor and Arsor backed out of my way as I rode through the dark tunnel. I turned, and Arroch went up a long, stone staircase. Arroch was breathing hard, but we reached the main level of the city. Soldiers of Gondor were bustling about, trying to replenish the broken walls, and fix the huge stone gate.

As I rode through the streets, people bowed their heads. I rode up a couple of levels, and passed Gandalf.

"Gandalf!" I yelled, and slowed Arroch.

"Go away. Go back to your post. Your comrades need help," Gandalf said gruffly. It took him a second, and he recognized me, "Alex! You are alive! Everyone that was sent out on that mission had.. Passed away."

"Even.. even Faramir?" I asked slowly.

Gandalf nodded sadly, "None survived. You were terribly outnumbered."

"Oh," I said, and looked at the orc troops. The were huge, and it looked like they had doubled in size since I last saw them. I looked up, and saw a huge rock flying towards us. "Gandalf!"

Arroch reared, and we narrowly escaped being hit. Gandalf was alright, but he was running to the stables for Shadowfax.

I rode up to the courtyard, and stopped where the white tree was. I dismounted Arroch, and ran towards the group of guards, and Lord Denethor. They were crowding around someone. I saw Pippin.

"Pippin!" I yelled. Pippin looked up, startled, "Y-y-yes my lord?"

"Pippin, it's me! Alex," I said, and walked over to him.

"Alex? No one survived that last battle!" Pippin said, shocked.

"Arroch saved me. I was hit by two arrows, but I survived," I said, and looked at Arroch.

Pippin smiled, "I thought I had lost another friend."

"Merry is alright. He wishes that you are alright as well," I said, and Pippin's eyes lit up.

"Merry's alive?" he asked.

"Yes, my dear hobbit," I said. I joined the group of men, and Lord Denethor who was talking as I approached, "My sons are spent. My line has ended!"

I saw Faramir's body twitch a little, and gasped, "My lord, he's alive! He needs medicine!"

Pippin ran towards us, and Lord Denethor ignored me, "My line has ended."

"My lord! Faramir is still alive!" Pippin yelled.

"Rohan has deserted us. Théoden's betrayed me. Abandon your posts! Flee! Flee for your lives!" Denethor said, and was still ignoring us. Soldiers scrambled back from their posts.

Gandalf came up behind him, on Shadowfax. He smacked Denethor on the head with his staff. The steward fell over.

"Prepare for battle!" Gandalf yelled, and galloped down to the lower levels, "Hurry men! To the wall! Return to your posts!"

I mounted Arroch, ready to join them. I saw rocks being thrown towards the huge orc army. I looked around, and saw Faramir being carried inside.

I heard a screech, and winced. I looked up, and saw the Nazgûl. They swooped down, and picked up soldiers and threw them. One landed near me, groaning. I gazed around, and saw huge towers being pushed towards us. Orcs jumped from them and started to come towards me. I easily let go of arrows, and killed them with ease. Pippin joined me, and stabbed one orc in it's neck.

"Good one Pippin!" I yelled, and quickly slashed one orc's face with my sword. I pulled Pippin onto Arroch, and we killed the orcs together. The orcs stopped coming, and we looked behind us. Dead bodies littered the ground.

"We did that!" I laughed. Pippin smiled, "I know! It's amazing I helped too!"

We looked down at the lower levels, which were in flames now. I looked down at the troops in terror. We were outnumbered. I glanced at Denethor, who was getting up, and groaning.

Pippin dismounted Arroch, and followed the steward.

"Pippin!" I cried, and followed him. As I dismounted Arroch in front of the white tree, I noticed one white flower blossoming on the top branch. I smiled. Aragorn was coming.

Yayy! Thanks so much for reading this far! Comment, vote, follow, it makes me feel good XD

This chapter is also dedicated to fantasy_girl15 because I HAD REALLY REALLY BAD writers block on this chapter and she helped with this, and I've spolied so much for her (except for the MAJOR PLOT TWIST hehe) but yeah. Hehe :D