The Lord of the Rings: The Banshee Queen

Chapter 18

They wanted us to travel the way to Mordor by pony, but I refused and assured them that we'll be alright by foot.
The servants dressed Dawn in an ensemble of an ankle-length scarlet chiffon skirt edged with intricate gold and a matching long-sleeved, cropped blouse with a plunging neckline.
Her hair was woven into a thick braid with golden strips of silk.
It was vastly different from the gown she wore at the start of the journey.
Arwen gifted us with water flasks, food rations, and a soldier named Maqil while Eldarion presented Dawn with flowers.
We thanked them and continued onward.
We arrived at the dilapidated Fortress of Osgiliath where Sam, Sméagol, and I were taken captive by Captain Faramir, Boromir's brother, when the Nazgûl attacked.
We thought we were safe for a while when those disgusting monsters caught us by surprise.
Dawn plunged her ruby-encrusted daggers into several of the Scavengers and sprinted to Maqil's side, kicking one in the stomach and decapitating it.
Scurrying to a broken statue and climbing to its peak, I jumped onto one of the enemies and impaled it through its head.

Bodies were mangled, flies buzzing about them as we stood around, staring dumbfounded at the massacre we created.
"Maqil, look out!" Dawn yelled.
We had missed one of them and it swiftly embedded a steel ax into Maqil's right shoulder, ferociously chopping into his flesh until it was split from his body; muscles and tendons glistening, bone exposed, and vermillion surging.
Dawn charged, roaring as she and the ax-wielding Scavenger struggled.
The monster swung its blade around, missing Dawn every time when my beloved seized its wrists, opened her mouth, and screamed in its face.
I covered my ears and the tears ran down my cheeks.
She had done it; she screeched like them.
The creature fell backwards, sobbing and stumbled, legs quivering.
Its eyes burst, blood coming out and it finally stopped crying, and laid there.
Maqil, mutilated and breathing raggedly, was still alive.
"Maqil, stay still. We'll send a message to the King," Dawn assured him.
"No, Mistress Starkin. It is already too late," he murmured, his still-attached arm weakly grabbing her hand.
"Frodo, we need to go"-
"Dawn...please listen to him."
She pursed her lips and laid her head against his chest.
"Mistress Starkin...go on with Master Baggins. Go and save yourself," he finished.
Gasping for air, he gave one last breath and was motionless.
Her hair hid her tear-soaked face, her hand still in his.
Neither of us said anything for an hour when she stood up, her skirt saturated in blood.
"Kill me, Frodo."
Those three words echoed in my ears.
They were truthful and agonizing.
Her honesty struck my heart like an arrow and I fell to my knees, the stench of the decaying corpses stinging my nostrils.
"Frodo, are you listening to me? I need you to kill me...I can't bear the thought of bringing darkness to Middle-earth especially with what you went through. Use your blade and cut my throat or something," she begged.
Between her sobs, she added, "I don't want to hurt you, Frodo. Look at yourself, love. I'll kill you yet you still love me."
The power of Jafilyn was not going to take her away from me.
Dawn has been one of the few moments of happiness in my life ever since the War.
She drops to the ground, her sobs loud, hiccuping several times.
"Please, Frodo. I don't want to be a burden."
I took a knee, rubbed her back and shushed her gently.
"I never want to hear you say such words ever again, Dawn. If I die, it wouldn't matter because we'll both be free from everything. That Ring almost cost me my life and I will risk it again for you and you only."
Rocking her back and forth, I whispered, "I won't let anything happen to you. I promise."