Aria the Black (Book 2 of the Daughters of Durin Trilogy)

Chapter 26: Birth of Alliance

"What news?" Faramir inquired to the man beside him, pondering over a map before them. He was asking for an update on the White Wizard's troops. Being on the move, his Rangers had little time to prepare for the upcoming war, and they wanted to be ready. Frodo and Sam sat at the other end of the cavern, watching the men mill about all around them. A steady waterfall droned over their voices, almost muting them as they spoke.

"Our scouts report Saruman has attacked Rohan. Théoden's people have fled to Helm's Deep." Faramir's companion replied, pointing at the map. "But we must look to our own borders. Faramir, Orcs are on the move. Sauron is marshalling an army. Easterlings and Southrons are passing through the Black Gate."

"How many?"

"Some thousands. More come every day."

A grim expression overtook Faramir's features, his gaze never faltering from the parchment before him. They were failing; the Rangers of the North had become powerless in their realm. Any effort they made to protect their land was now futile, and both of the lead rangers knew it. "Who is covering the river to the north?"

"We pulled 500 men at Osgiliath, but if the city is attacked, we won't hold it."

"Saruman attacks from Isengard, Sauron from Mordor." Faramir's calloused fingers traced the map before him with earnest as he thought. "The fight will come to men on both fronts. Gondor is weak. Sauron will strike us soon, and he will strike hard. He knows now we do not have the strength to repel him."

Sighing, Faramir nodded to the Ranger and walked away as he dismissed him, knowing there was nothing more to discuss. He ventured over to the Hobbits instead, preparing to question them. But little did his men know that Aria had seen their capture, and had followed them thus far. She sat not far outside of the cave, the distance being enough to hear their conversation since she was so close to the waterfall. All she had to do was wait for the right moment to save her friends.

"My men tell me that you are Orc spies." Faramir accused, an eyebrow raised.

"Spies? Now, wait just a minute!" Sam cried in disbelief.

"Well, if you're not spies, then who are you?" They remained silent. "Speak." He commanded once more, his tone of voice suggesting what would happen if they did not. Aria shut her eyes tight, begging for them to continue their silence. It was the intelligent move, for their mission was to be of the utmost secrecy.

But alas, they did not. "We are hobbits of the Shire. Frodo Baggins is my name, and this is Samwise Gamgee."

"Your bodyguard?" the Ranger assumed, humored at their true identities.

"His gardener." Sam growled back, though his title was no better than the one Faramir had intuited.

"And where is your skulking friend? That gangrel creature; he had an ill-favoured look."

"There was no other." Frodo responded, with only the slightest hesitation. He knew the man spoke of Gollum. "We set out from Rivendell with seven companions. One we lost in Moria. Two were my kin. A Dwarf there was also, and an Elf. And two men, Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and Boromir of Gondor."

The last of the Fellowship's titles sparked the most interest in Faramir. "You're a friend of Boromir?" he asked intently.

"Yes... for my part." He responded.

"For your part? What is your word worth?" His voice had grown hostile, from what Aria could tell outside of the cave. She slowly began to stand, readying her hands as electricity popped and crackled between them.

"Everything." Sam defended. "His word is everything. Boromir was a close friend, and we watched him take his last breath." Tears welled in his eyes as his voice grew hoarse. "So many arrows had pierced him. There he lay, on the dirt, and spoke of such glory that we would know not of. He was the most honorable man I have every met. We mourn him every day- something you would know nothing of!"