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"I will find what I can Phae." Galreth said as he looekd about. There were few if any healers around, and all the medicine herbs had been long used. He saw Phaether had given up her shirt and now only had chain mail covering her body, Galerth could do no less? He removed his tunic and gave over some heavy spirits which he hoped to drink with Phaether in celebration of their betrothal to her. If it meant saving this man's life, it was worth every drop. Galreth left Dunhama in the care of Phaether, and he started looking around to se if any still lived nearby. He wanted to find this man's betrothed, be she dead or still living.

Durian and Khaloch spent their days drinking and spending time with the dancers, but when the war had come, Durian went to seek his brethren. When he found the Rangers on the Corsair cships, he wanted to join, but Aragorn, having been gladdened that Durian was alive, sent him to rally the men of the city. There was much fighting to still be done, and Durian led men to Harondor and held the fords of Poros preventing more Haradians coming north to assault Minas Tirith. When the days had quieted, Durian sat alone, wondering if Phaether was alive, and if so, where she was and what was her part in this war. He would have to try and get north and seek her, for he still held her to him in his heart. If only he could tell her he lived, for surely she thought him dead. It would be long before he could seekk her, for his command given to him by his chieftain, and now King, Aragorn, was to command the fords of Poros.

He would see a woman in a ripped dress with long messy blonde hair frantically looking around and yelling for Dunhama. She had tears on her dirt covered face and a few minor injuries.

Meanwhile Phae was working on helping him remain comfortable and alive. She felt like he’d be okay. She needed him to stay alive. It was incredibly important to her. All she could think about was Durian and how she wished she had a moment to say goodbye to him.

"M'lady, you search for your beloved? I am Galreth of Ithilien. We have one named Dunhama calling for Lady Runhild."

The woman was still armed and looking fierce amongst her bloodstained face and torn clothing, and she reacted to Galreth's words.

"Come m'lady, he lays over by the gates of the city."

Galreth escorted her over to where Phaether was attending to his grevious wounds. Galerth held her hand as she sat down by Dunhama. He looked at the lady and said,

"You suffer from wounds m'lady. They need to be tended!" He took wa part of his tunic and tore it off to bandage her head.

A force of Haradrim coming up the track tried to force the crossing of Poros but was met with force and held back. But each assault caused heavy casualties, and it was becoming a battle of who would break first. When all the Gondorian officers were slain or morthally wounded, it fell to Durian to rally the remaining men. Though small in number, they followed the northerner's commands, and the last battle saw them victorious in breaking the Haradrim. But they could not pursue, for only twelve able bodies remained of theit army of several hundred. Durian himself suffered a blow to the ehad, but he remained in command until the threat had subsided.

The woman tilted her head so Galreth could tend to her wound. She since in pain and looked at her beloved.

”He will be alright.” Phae said softly but kept working on his wounds. She was sweating a little and getting slightly frustrated. One wound was worrying her and she would be damned if she gave up now. ”Come on...” she mumbled and sewed the wound with delicate touch. She felt his forehead and was relieved when he had no fever. His breathing was steady as was his pulse.

Galreth watched Phae as she worked on Dunhama. Her skill as a healer made her all the more amazing in his eyes. "You are quite lerned in the healing ways Phae, I know you have the touch of the elves. I thank thee for your strength and skill."

He took his water bag off his belt and gave it to the couple to drink, and he stood to look for others in the waning light of the westering sun.

She stood with him and gently took his hand. ”I thank the elves for their knowledge of healing. Had it not been for them....” she trailed off. She moved closer to him and saw a small child crying over a corpse. She let go of his hand and rushed over to the child and knelt down by him. She tried to soothe him and calm him.

OOC: Doh, it always defaults to the last character used.

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So much death... Seeing Phae with the child, he wondered about her and if they would have children after the war. He was falling in love with her more and more as he watched her.

When some from the White City came, they took Dunhama and Runhild on the travois and went back to take them to the House of Healing. The child that Phae lifted from their dead father and mother held to Phae toght as they cried. They needed to take the child to the House of Healing as well. Galreth helped a wounded Gondorian soldier to his feet and he would walk him back.

She carried the young child and felt tears in her eyes. She walked alongside Galreth and the others. She shushed the child. He was only four. ”Shh... want to hear a song?” she asked softly and the crying child sniffled and nodded. ”May it be an evening star
Shines down upon you
May it be when darkness falls
Your heart will be true
You walk a lonely road
Oh! How far you are from home
Mornie utulie
Believe and you will find your way
Mornie alantie
A promise lives within you now” The child managed to stop crying and Phae had tears streaming down her cheeks.

Galreth and the soldier named Belgor both wept at the song Phaether sang as they made their way to the healing house. Seeing how she was with the child, Galreth imagined them with children in a peaceful time. This was his betrothed, and his heart melted as they went.

The song calmed the child, and Galreth wondered about all the other orphaned children from the war. May it be they have a Gondor to call their own when this was all over.

"Your voice... it is so soothing." Belgor said as they reached the Healing House.

She smiled shyly and blushed ”Thank you...” was all she said. She took the child to a healer and waved goodbye then walked outside. She leaned against the trunk of a tree and was lost in thought about everything that had happened and was still happening. She sighed and glanced at her betrothed and smiled a little then walked over to him

Galreth watched Phae come toward him, and he put his arm out to embrace her. He had no words to say. He just held her close as they looked east.

"Somewhere out there lies our destiny. We stand on teh edge of the blade and could fall one way or another." He turned to face Phaether. "Did you know Faramir rests in the healing house? That Denethor has perished and he is now ruling steward?"

”Faramir? He’s alright?” she asked urgently. He was one of her closest friends. She relaxed upon hearing he’d be okay. She turned around in his arms and stayed close to him. She kissed his chest in a loving manner. Maybe she could forget Durian. Maybe this new life would be good after all.

Durian and his dozen soldiers from the Pelargir and the southern provinces held the fords vigilantly for a day and a night, expecting another Haradrim attack to overwhelm them, but none came. When the next morning saw the arrival of a platoon of hardy Highlanders of Befalas to relieve them, the Poros was held and the dead were laid to rest.

The survivors were honoured, and when given the chance to return to Pelargir, not one accepted. Durian told the Highlander commander ”It is our decision to the man that we stay our post. Our comrades were lost here in defence and we will stay until the king himself commands to go.”

The highlander commander nodded and admired their camaraderie. ”It be welcome news to know you stand with us. Take leave of your posts for a time and rest. Stay close to the fords and come as reserve if needed.” The men with Durian did turn and go a short way from the track by the ford. They needed rest to be worthy fighting men. Durian stayed with the Highlander commander and asked, ”Any word from the north?”

The commander nodded his head slightly. ”The White City still flies the banner of the House of Hurin, but there was grievous losses. Rare is a family of the great city, Anorien, or Ithilien that had not suffered.” Durian stood and watched the waters of Poros trickle through the ford. He thought of Phaether and wondered if she lived. He knew she would have been at the forefront of the fight, and surely Osgiliath would have been overrun first. He closed his eyes as he lay on his back on the hard ground, thinking of the days in the waters and how she had reached inside him and touched him. He did not know when he would even get back north, and he feared finding her marked grave and mourning over it, or worse, there was no sign of her found.

The days came, and the nights passed, all in the same drab brown grey. Galreth and Phae spent time caring for the dead, walking with each other in the city, and visiting with Lord Faramir and Lady Eowyn in the Healing House. They knew that all hope rested on the fate of two halflings deep inside Mordor, even as the combined yet understrength army of Gondor and Rohan marched on the Black Gates.

It was the afternoon of the 25th day of the month of Súlimë as Galreth and Phaether stood on the high walls of Minas Tirith with Lord Faramir and Lady Eowyn when the very ground under the White City shook. The black belches of Mt Doom blew its filth high into the air, athey were left to wonder of Sauron had taken his power or had the halflings destroyed it.

Soon enough they could tell what exactly had happened. The ring had been destroyed. Her eyes teared up and she let out a small laugh of joy. She covered her mouth and shook her head. She had tears pouring down her cheeks as she felt relief. It was over. It was finally over.

She turned to Galreth and hugged him tightly. She had no words for the occasion as she felt intense emotions. A range of them. It’s all alright Durian... they did it... be at peace she thought to herself.

Galreth smiled as the shockwave passed. "It is done! The west stands!" He lifted Phaether in his arms and spun around, giving her a kiss as he set her back on her feet. he looked at her and brushed her cheek with his fingers. He knew there was a lot of grief and many had perished in the final battle far away, but the victory would be theirs!

She laughed happily and smiled up at him. She missed him passionately and lovingly and stayed close to him in his arms. ”Yes... it is done...” she couldn’t stop smiling and she Peppered him with kisses

It wasn't long before celebrations started to erupt in the city. They were joyous yet restrained. There was still much work to do. Faramir and Eowyn came over and the four embraced. Faramir then said,

"You two seem fit enough to go. Find swift horses and ride north and east. Find Aragorn, Find Gandalf! If final victory is ours, there will still be much to do. Take word that the Steward of Gondor awaits their return."

Galreth and Phae looked at each other and then back to Faramir, "Yes, m'lord." Galreth said.