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She gave Faramir one more hug. They had been friends since childhood. ”It’s wonderful to see you live and well... we shall ride north.” she pulled back then took Galreth’s hand. She began to walk with him to find a horse for them both. She was thankful she could fight in case any enemies remained.

Galreth went and got their weapons while Phae searched for horses. They would be traveling light, but they had to be very careful. With the downfall of the Dark Lord, his minions would be a rabble, and they could be quite dangerous.

With his leather vest and ranger cloak, Galreth had his two daggers, his bow with a quiver of arrows, and his sword of Westernesse. He gathered Phae's gear and they again met on by the broken city gates.

She had two horses for them luckily and smiled ”Shall we?” she asked in a soft and gentle voice. She had all of her weapons and gear with him and she pulled on her ranger cloak as well. She walked over and kissed his cheek gently. ”Thank you... for everything.” she said sincerely before mounting her horse.

"It is I who thanks you Phae. Let us ride afield together once again!" He took the horse and hed it get to know him before mounting up. Once Phae was ready, they set out to the north and east. They would go to Osgiliath and take the bridge repaired by the orcs.

She trotted alongside him with a smile present on her face. She felt calm. Relaxed. Not tense like she usually would. Perhaps it was because she found peace and war had come to an end. Now was the era of repairing. She hummed softly as they continued riding.

Galreth looked over to Phae. "You have w really nice singing voice. it is comforting." he said as they made their way toward the south of the ruins of Osgiliath. He cautioned them to slow in case any renegade orcs were still holed up there.

She blushed and smiled ”Thank you... I used to sing quite often.” As they traveled she noticed a few dead orcs around them. She shot a squirming one and remained calm. She glanced at him and said softly ”I hope everyone is holding up alright...”

Galreth nodded. "I ythink it will be a recovery long to heal until the King returns. I hope we find everyone in hope they didn't perish in teh end of the dark lord."

They entered the city and Galreth lifted his mask over his face. The place stunk. As they rode to the bridge barely repaired enough for the enemy to get seige engines across, they set out over the Anduin river. Galreth pointed to a ruined cathredral.

"That was the Great Library of Osgiliath. Ithad a dome of glass that was called the Dome of the Stars. It housed the master palantir stone of the south at one time." Galreth held his horse up as he gazed at what was left of the place. "Legend tells the stone was lost in teh river in a battle of Gondorians. The kin-strife it was called."

She stayed quiet and simply looked around. She sighed and looked away. Libraries of any kind were sacred to her. She valued knowledge and books. She could spend years in library after library. ”I wish there wasn’t so much destruction...” she said in a very very soft voice as they had to maneuver around a lot of rubble.

"Maybe we will be a part of a new renaissance of Gondor." he said as they made it to the east side of the river. The road east to Minas Morgul...was clear.

Galreth drew his sword and poimted it east. "By proclamation, the fortress of Minas Morgul will be cleansed and rededicated as Minas Ithil, its name of old!" He sheathed his sword and sighed. "If only it were that easy." he said as he reached over and took Phae's hand.

”If only...” she said softly and held his hand. She sighed and looked away. Everything had changed now. For better or worse she didn’t know. Some changed for the better. Some... she wished hadn’t changed. She missed so many people. She missed Durian. But she had to move on. And Galreth was helping her. He was her new love. If she could even say love...

Their ride out of Osgiliath toward the crossroad with the Ithilien Road was uneventful, and they came across a garrison of older soldiers guarding the Morgul road.

"What news of the Army of the Morannon?" Galreth called out as they rode up.

"None." the senior captain of this post said as he stepped forth. But the air had lightened after the rumbling of the ground."

He reached for Galreth's hand. "It os late! stay and rest with us for a time." he said. Galreth looked to Phae. They were quite tired.

She was struggling to stay awake so when they were told to stay she looked relieved. ”We could use the rest. Thank you.” she said with a gentle smile. She yawned and was still holding Galreth’s hand as they traveled. They followed him to a place where they could rest for the night.

It had been some time since they had rested properly. Though it was soothing, the baths they did not rest in, so when the commander offered up a small tent to the side of the Ithilien Road, Galreth gave him a nod as he dismounted as he turned to Phae and yawned.

"Many thanks for this. It will be the first proper sleep since... well, I can't remember. Maybe the prospect of not being at war has caused this intense vigil inside us to relax."

She gave the man a small nod and walked into the tent. She was far too tired to talk with the man though she wanted to express her gratitude. She laid down immediately and closed her eyes as her exhausted took over and she was almost instantly asleep

Galreth watched Phae go into the tent. The commander pointed to another tent across the way for him. He nodded and went over to it and climbed in. He wouldn't bother Phae this night. He too was soon fast asleep.

She woke up about an hour later from a nightmare. She sighed and got up quietly then walked to Galreth’s tent. She snuck in and laid down beside him. There was just enough room for her to fit. She closed her eyes and hoped she didn’t wake him.

Galreth woke up in the dark feeling someone pressed against his back. An arm was draped over his side, and her hand had found his and their fingers were entwined. "Mmmm.. Phaether...." he moaned out lightly before falling back into a deep sleep.

A dream came to him where he saw Phaether playing with two young children. One, a little girl, looked just like her. The other, a boy a little younger, didn't. When Phaether looked up at him and smiled, he started to walk toward her, but he was passed by the dead northerner, and he embraced her and lifted the children in his arms. He awoke suddenly to daylight and the soind of birds in the wood. "Birds! There are birds singing!" he said. Well and truely victory had come!

She woke up right after she heard him speak and her eyes widened. She laughed happily and pulled him into a hug. ”I haven’t heard birds in far too long...” she whispered and bit her lip. She could hear joyful laughs outside their tent. People were rejoicing. Something as simple as birds singing brough immense joy to those near and far.

It was a joy to hear the birds. It was as if a weight had been lifted from the lands. The air was lighter, and hearts were less burdened. They sat with the guard and ate breakfast, and Galreth said they needed to go north on the Ithilien Road to find the Host of the West

"There are many who we seek. A wizard named Gandalf, and a great Captain of Men called Aragorn. It is our hope we find their rearguard this day."

Galreth reached out and took Phae's hand. They would remain and relax for just a little longer.