Lundil had three orcs on top of him. He barely rolled out of the way of one of their swords. It was the same scene everywhere Haleth looked. Some of the older men didn't even attempt to dodge their opponent's swings. Rohan's numbers were dropping fast.
Haleth tightened his grip on his shield and rushed into the mass of orcs that had pinned down his friend. "I made...a promise..." he grunted with each blow. Two orcs fell, and Lundil ran to stand behind his protector. "Just watch my back from now on," Haleth said. "And let's try to avoid that happening again."
"Sorry!" Lundil replied. "I lost sight of you so fast. Thanks..."
Haleth didn't say anything, because - just as it seemed they were together and nothing bad could happen again - a tremendous explosion blew them off their feet. Haleth must have fallen twenty feet, but he didn't feel any pain upon hitting the ground. Through the ringing in his ears he thought he could make out the screams of men as they tried to comprehend what was happening. Orcs, hundreds at a time, streamed through what used to be a great wall. Behind him, elves abandoned their bows for the strange curved swords they were so fond of. It was bittersweet to watch them engage the Uruk Hai. Each thrust and swipe of their blades represented everything that they were: grace, pride, power. They had left the safety of their forests, where for thousands of years they had been at peace, to die amongst farmers and herders, children and senile old men. But it was futile. Soon the mass of Uruk Hai had overtaken what few defenders who were on their feet.
Haleth struggled to stand. Looking around he saw no sign of Lundil. He tried to call out, but his call went unanswered. "Lundil! LUNDIL!" He continued to cry out in vain. Before he opened his mouth to try again, he was being dragged from the wreckage by two soldiers. He twisted and tried to break free, but they just held him tighter. Exhausted, he let himself be pulled from the battlefield. Everywhere, elves and men were retreating. A dwarf was being held back, just as Haleth was, from charging into the army of orcs. He wondered if the dwarf had also lost a friend, or if he struggled for a different reason. The soldiers holding Haleth, satisfied that he had calmed down, relinquished their hold on him. The child, too small for his helmet, carrying a shield too heavy for his hands, turned and ran to join the last line of defense at the keep. The last line of defense against this seemingly endless swarm of Uruk Hai.