Mo Ghile Mear

The Peace That Would Change Us

***Athena's POV***

  The beginning of the battle began. Gandalf managed to drive the Witch-King of Angmar away by using his staff. 

  "Mirthrandir!" said an unfamiliar voice. We turned to face the speaker. I saw that it was Faramir, son of Lord Denethor. "They've broken through the garrisons. They've taken the River on the west bank. Battalions of orcs are crossing the river." 

  "It is as Lord Denethor has predicted," one of the residents of Minas Tirith wailed with despair. "Long has he foreseen this doom!" 

  "Foreseen, and done nothing," I spat in return. I turned on my horse to face the noble man. Gandalf followed suit. Once Gandalf had turned around, Faramir's eyes landed right on Pippin, who rode in front of the wizard. Pippin saw that he was being stared at and immediately looked uncomfortable. I noticed this, watching his reaction. He looked very taken aback. 

  "Faramir?" said Gandalf. "What is it?" 

  He still looked distant. I immediately got the idea. 

  "This is not the first time a Hobbit has crossed your path, is it?" I murmured in a soft voice. 

  Faramir shook his head, his eyes still on Pippin. 

  "No," he admitted. 

  Pippin's eyes lit up with hope. 

 "You've seen Frodo, Sam, and Sera. Haven't you?" he breathed excitedly. I haven't seen the hobbit act this excited in a long time. 

  "Yes," Faramir answered. He still sounded distracted. The three of us gave each other very excited looks. 

  "Where? When?" Gandalf insisted. 

  "In Ithilien," Faramir immediately answered. "Not just two days ago." 

  I gave a breath of relief. At least they were safe! Unfortunately, Faramir's next piece of news was incredibly disturbing to me and Gandalf. 

  "Gandalf? Athena? They're headed for the road of Morgul Vale." 

  My face went pale. That was not a good sign. 

  "And then the Path of Cirith Ungol," I murmured. Faramir nodded. "And . . . . who suggested such a dangerous pass?" 

  Faramir's eyes darkened. 

  "You're not going to be very pleased when you hear this, Athena and Gandalf. They're going with the creature Gollum." 

  Gollum? Out of all the creatures, why Gollum? 

  "The creature seems very intent on getting them there," Faramir went on. "He seems to have two sides of him, now. One side is Gollum, the other is by the name of Smeagol."

   "His name before he transformed under the Mountains," Gandalf murmured. 

  Pippin, however, was getting impatient. 

  "What does this mean? Gandalf? Athena?" 

  "Faramir," said Gandalf sharply. "Tell us everything." 

  So he told us everything that he knew. I leaned forward, intent on keeping every word in my mind. 

  ". . . . I was drawn by the Ring, at first," Faramir admitted guiltily. "But in Osgiliath, Sera's powerful speech made all of my feelings ebb away. She seemed to have transformed me somehow. She transformed my thoughts. I could see the love and dedication she had for Frodo. She never gave up on him." 

  "Frodo almost put on the Ring? Again?" I asked, dumbfounded. 

  "Yes. But, as I said, Sera stopped him. He almost killed her, but I believe that the Ring had been possessing her at the time."