The Lord of the Rings: The Banshee Queen

Chapter 26

A sparkling cloud of darkness gushed out of the small bleeding cut and it swirled into a gargantuan mountain, touching the ceiling.
Rumble! Rumble!
The terrified voices of the Banshees sobbed and screamed.
"What's happening?"
"No! The stupid Halfling! Look what he has done!"
"Yusayt! Look at the walls! They are breaking!"
"Curse you, Halfling! Curse you forever!"
The floor shook violently, and it cracked open, the walls crumbling and the coffin containing the remains of Jafilyn fell, shattering into many shards, the skeleton broken, and her skull was rolling around.
I gathered Dawn in my arms, applying pressure to her hand as I clasped her tightly, my sword in the scabbard and Veon's cloak shielding us from harm.
If she dies, I shall die with her.

I believed we were dead when I raised my face out from Dawn's neck.
The suffocating air was dense with ash and fire but I was cold, teeth chattering and the wind blew aggressively.
Thunder rolled and flies nibbled on me.
The Tower was a hill of black rubble and the Banshees were no more.
Everywhere I looked there was no sign of life.
Everyone was dead, but me and I begged Eru that Dawn wasn't.
The alabaster darkened to her natural rosy hue, her disheveled tresses back to the lustrous wine color, and I opened her mouth and those horrid fangs were gone.
Her cerulean gown ripped to shreds, her under-blouse off her shoulders, and the stones on her neck glinted.
I snatched them off and stomped on them.
She had no need for these priceless gems and she never will again whether she likes it or not.
Two fingers on her wrist, happiness blossomed inside me when I felt a pulse.
"I wish you could talk right now, Dawn," I whispered.
"I need to hear that voice of yours. I do not know if you can hear me, but they're all gone; every single one of them. Middle-earth is saved...you're saved. You can smile again, love. You don't have to cry anymore. Please, Dawn..."
Cradling her, the air choked me; the nauseating scent of blood and death was mixed with my salty tears.
Her hand was soiled by brownish blood, her fingers cold.
"How can I smile when I've hurt you?"
That voice! That precious voice of hers!
It was strained with her own tears as she asked that.
Slowly, she removes herself from my tight embrace and hides her crying face.
"I hurt you, Frodo...I didn't mean to. How can you love me after what I have done to you?"
She remembered all of it.
She remembered calling me her pet, making me sleep in that sickening cell, allowing the Banshees to beat me, and leaving my arms as soon as she climaxed.
I hoped she forgot all about those, but she cried as she confessed to her heinous behavior.
"You should've killed me when you had the chance," she sobbed.
"But look around, Dawn! Everyone's dead!"
Lifting her face from her blemished hands, she stared blankly and she tensed.
"Can you break that for me?"
I looked over to where she was pointing and that crown glittered.
"Don't look at it, love. I'll get rid of it for you," I told her.
Groaning in pain, I limped towards the knotted crown.
Taking it, I growled and snapped it in half, the gems shattering and flying.
No more were the Banshees.
No more was Jafilyn.
And no more did Dawn and I have to suffer.
"Is it gone?" she asked.
"Yes, love."
She smiles and chuckles, "Hold me, Frodo."
I crawled back to her and held her. No one can hurt us anymore; not Sauron, not the One Ring, and not Jafilyn.
Pilop can rest in peace now.
Even in death, the unpleasant memories of Jafilyn won't hurt him anymore.
Dawn sniffed, "I'm so sorry for everything. I never meant to do such things to you."
She was full of honesty.
Stroking her coils, I murmured, "You are forgiven, Dawn Starkin."
"A-Are we going to die?"
"No," I said. "We're going to be alright."
"Thank you, Frodo...for saving me from Mother...and maybe you can save me from this gown too; it's itchy," she replied.
I chuckled.
Her spirits were back and they remained the same.
"I love you, Dawn."
"I love you more, Frodo Baggins."
With her resting in my embrace, she moaned and closed her eyes, drifting off to a deep slumber.
My chin on her head, I did the same as her.
Good riddance, Jafilyn.
You are now forgotten to the people of Arda and your poison shall never taint Middle-earth again.

I was flying.
Or rather, I thought I was when I opened my eyes to see the Great Eagle clasping me in its large talons.
These giant majestic birds saved us from dying in Mordor and even if we did, I wouldn't be alone.
"Thank you," I mumbled, my vision fading with the last thing I saw being Dawn in the grasp of another Eagle, her hair blowing in the strong wind.