“*Faith…Sister…Faith…Sister. Help me for I cannot help even myself…Faith…help.*” Her despairing words ran once more through my mind, causing my eyes to glint once more, a fusion of tears and steel. She had been reduced to something so weak; so frail; so feeble. And it was all the fault of the one that betrayed us all. He would pay. The Demon would pay…and his tower would be broken.

With a frosted heart, I dropped my piercing gaze from the monstrosity of black stone and metal. Clutching the hilt of my sword, I ran swiftly to my horse, still paying no heed to the stares I was being presented with.

“She is the Sorceress of the Golden Wood’s daughter’s daughter. The blood of her witch kin runs thick through the Lady’s veins, as we have just witnessed the effects of. Aie, avoid the elf-witch and her granddaughter.” My ears caught the whispered words and I halted suddenly, turning my sight onto the solider. He shifted uncomfortably. I opened my mouth to retort, but closed it. I had no time to deal with such untruths. And Arwen had not the time to wait. It took all the self-control I possessed, to look evenly in his eye and to turn away without so much as the slightest response.

Arwen was yet living. It was a dark spell that had trapped us all into believing otherwise, and now she would suffer for our mistake. I quickened my pace and deftly leapt onto my steed’s back, gripping her mane tightly with one fist.

“Halt!”

Natural instinct caused me to freeze at the word, but common sense quickly took over. As the minutes wasted away, so did my chance at finding Arwen…alive. I urged my horse towards the tower yet was stopped once more. My eyes blazed at the intrusion, I had no time for such. And neither did the Evenstar.

“Faith! For Valar’s sake, explain yourself and your sudden actions!” Aragorn stood in my path, clearly waiting for an answer.

I smiled sadly and shrugged, “You would not believe me. And I have no answers. To anything. You should know that. Excuse me…”

“I most certainly will not excuse you! Where are you heading?”

I spoke impatiently, “Aragorn! I have no time for such games! Can you not see I am in a desperate hurry? If I am to succeed, I need every moment!”

He eyed me suspiciously before quickly mounting his own horse.

“What in Valar’s name do you think you are doing?” I stared at the mad man.

“Accompanying you.”

“Like Mordor, you are! I go alone! Dismount in this instant!”

“No.” He met my furious gaze, obvious determination underneath his calm eyes. “Where is our destination?”

I swore, “ARAGORN! GET OFF THE BLOODY HORSE!”

Shocked muttering met my words. The Riders of Rohan had most likely never seen a ‘lady’ swear before. Well, they were hearing and seeing one now.

“No,” Aragorn responded quietly.

I took a deep breath, trying to speak steadily and calmly. “Aragorn, fight your battles and leave me be to fight my own. For the sake of Middle Earth, see my point of view! Aragorn! Fight your own battles and I shall fight mine.”

His eyes filled with sudden doubt and he weakened slightly. Yet as quickly as it came, the doubt disappeared, leaving behind no trace. “I shall not let my beloved’s si…”

“FOR THE SAKE OF ELBERETH, LISTEN TO ME! ARAGORN! REMAIN HERE!”

“No.”

My mind flashed through the possibilities I had remaining. I could not force him to remain using brute strength, he held far more than I. How to convince him…I smiled triumphantly as I grasped the handle of the key to leaving Aragorn behind. Emotional blackmail was now my one hope.

I grabbed my own blade and pressed it to my neck, “Aragorn, if you do not remain, and leave me be to fight my own war, I shall slay myself here and now. And you know that I shall do as I say.”

His jaw dropped at the ‘sincerity’ in my voice. His face hardened and he glowered at me, very aware that he was being blackmailed. I did not flinch.

“You have given me no choice,” Aragorn muttered. He had lost the fight. I sighed thankfully but tensed at his next words, “I only hope that I have not repeated the mistake I made at the Fords. Allowing an elf to do as she wished, though the stakes against her were high. It held disastrous consequences.”

Though I held no understanding of this ‘error’, I took it that he was blaming himself for the loss of the Evenstar. Bless Valar he did not know about this further torture. I sheathed my weapon and smiled dimly, “It was not your mistake, Aragorn. It was all of ours. Curse the deception of the traitor! CURSE IT!” My eyes glinted at the words and I faced the far-off metal structure with vehemence at the treachery of the fallen wizard and his deeds.

He would pay…with his life. And I prayed that I would not be too late. To save one life…and to take another… “Demon’s Slave” I cursed once more, meaning it with every ounce of hatred in my body. I tossed my hair over one shoulder, slowly approaching the dark tower with violent flames of hate in my eyes. He would pay… even if my life ended because of it.