Here's the next chapter! And a special Christmas present for daisymall13, prepare to see some Uruk-Hai kicking action with Legolas! And don't worry, Aragorn will have some action too. Merry Christmas everyone!
Disclaimer: I would ask Santa to let me own LoTR, but I don't think my dad is that great.
As Saruman the Black paced about the Golden Hall, the doors opened and Lurtz stepped through, a cruel grin on his face. Saruman understood and knew it was time. Gripping his staff, he walked over to the doors, followed by Lurtz, and looked down on the city of Edoras. As soon as he came out, a great roar rose up from the huge army of Uruk-Hai that occupied Edoras. It was an army bigger than that which had fought at Helm's Deep, and more than half the soldiers were outside the city. The villagers were on their knees, forced to watch their master in a mockery of a bow.
The army of Uruk-Hai had been brought from Isengard, where some of the Uruk-Hai stayed to build more troops. They shouted and cheered as their leader came forth. Saruman raised his hand and the roar immediately stopped. For a second there was silence, then he spoke in a hue, loud voice of rule and authority.
"My soldiers! The world will soon be ours! Our rule is at hand, and soon no one will stand in our way!"
The roar started up again but Saruman silenced them. "There are still many enemies foolish enough to oppose us. Now their doom has come! We shall burn their homes and kill their families! Now, we march to Minas Tirith, the last stronghold of our enemies! I will lead you, and soon, the world shall be ours!"
The loudest cheer of all broke out and it was surprising it didn't deafen anyone. Saruman turned to Lurtz, who was dressed in armour like his armour but without a helmet. The Black Hand of Saruman was printed on his red face. "Bring me my Warg."
Lurtz nodded and went to fetch the beast. Saruman smiled wickedly as his revenge would soon be complete. But the ultimate revenge he wanted that was more important than anything, was to kill Gandalf the White.
*****
For three days the armies of Saruman marched through the White Mountains, taking the same route as the Riders of Rohan had taken under Théoden's rule. On the third day they came to Minas Tirith, bringing their spears, swords, ladders, ballistae and other engines of war, ready to unleash their wrath.
*****
Aragorn and Arwen stood in the throne room of Minas Tirith, surrounded by their old friends. After Éomer and the Rohirrim arrived they knew what fate was coming. Everyone came to prepare for the last defence. In the room was Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli, Éomer, Éowyn and Faramir. There were all dressed for battle, Aragorn, Faramir and Pippin in armour of Gondor, Éomer, Éowyn wearing armour of Rohan, Frodo and Sam wearing their hobbit clothes, Gandalf in his robes, Legolas in his elvish robes, and Gimli in his dwarven helm and armour.
They were planning out defences for Minas Tirith when a guard rushed into the room. "Lord Aragorn!" he quickly said, "The enemy is here! Saruman has come!"
"What?" asked Aragorn. He and his friends followed the guard outside to the courtyard where the White Tree stood. As they went to the edge of the city's top level, a great roar came from the army below as they saw their enemies. An army of Uruk-Hai stood at the bottom of the city, a number too much to count. They were spread around the wall of the bottom level and there were many lines behind the first. War machines were placed about the army, and the soldiers were difficult to see through the forest of spears they held up. But the most outstanding feature of the army was a black figure in front of the gate. It was getting off a Warg and held a black staff. It took some time for them to realize it was Saruman.
"Hello, old friend," he spoke in a loud voice. They knew it was directed to Gandalf.
"Saruman," he replied, "What have you done to yourself? How have you corrupted your body and mind so much?"
"I used the most powerful magic known to the world. The Black Speech of Mordor!"
" No! Don't you know what that can do?"
"Yes I do. It has given me power far greater than you can ever imagine!"
Gandalf's face showed sorrow as he replied, "What do you want?"
"Oh, I think you know already. But I offer you a choice. Surrender and your lives will be spared."
Aragorn then spoke up. "You fool! You think you can just take our lands like that? Well, I tell you now, the free peoples of Middle-Earth will never fall to Saruman the false wizard!"
There was silence until Saruman replied. "So be it. You have chosen our own fate Aragorn, King of Gondor. Now face the power of Isengard!"
The Uruk-Hai roared once again as the heroes turned away and Aragorn spoke to them. "We must hurry if we are to defend this city. Legolas and Gimli, take charge of the defence of the bottom level. Faramir, the second, third and fourth. Éomer and Éowyn the fifth and sixth. If you lose your levels, retreat to here. The hobbits and I will defend the seventh level. Saruman thinks he has beaten us, but soon he will see the true power of the free peoples!"
*****
On the first floor of Minas Tirith, Legolas stood at the battlements overlooking the hoards of Uruk-Hai. Beside him stood Gimli, who was just about to see over the wall. Along with archers from Gondor, there were elves dressed for battle which Legolas had brought from Ithilien. They held their bows and arrows in their strings, waiting for the command. The Uruk-Hai were about to attack.
Gimli then spoke to his friend. "If I had known of this threat sooner, I would've brought a huge army of dwarves from my caves. That would even the odds a bit. They would be a mighty enemy."
"Do not worry Gimli," replied Legolas. "We will win this battle and Saruman will be defeated once and for all."
"Aye laddie, and then we'll have a mighty toast."
Legolas grinned but turned back to the battle as drum beats rang out. The Uruk-Hai were moving in. As they marched towards the city, arrows came flying from nowhere and hurled towards the wall. They missed most of the targets. But Legolas delayed no longer. He loaded his bow and gave the command. "Hado i philinn!" Immediately the elves let loose a volley of arrows and the men quickly followed. The arrows hit their targets square in the neck, the weak point in their armour. The Uruk-Hai, however, didn't falter and continued their march and returned fire. Arrows were sent from both sides, but the Uruk-Hai kept going. They eventually reached the door and four Uruk-Hai broke out of the army carrying a battering ram. They charged, but the gate didn't even vibrate. "Leave it," said a voice. They turned to see Saruman facing them.
"But master, we have to break down the gate," said an Uruk-Hai.
"But the ram is not strong enough. Allow me to deal with the gate."
He walked past the ram and stood inches from the gate. He raised his staff above his head so that the bottom was facing the gate. He then spoke the words which had added to his power.
"Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul!"
A huge fireball erupted from his staff, surrounded by black mist. As soon as it hit the gate the flames spread and the gate seemed to dissolve. The black mist vanished to reveal the dismayed faces of the elves and men behind it. The whole city looked on in shock.
Legolas was the quickest to recover. "Herio!" he shouted to the soldiers. The soldiers came out of their state of shock and charged at the Uruk-Hai rushing into the city. Both sides drew their swords as they collided. The city's defenders cut through most of the first wave, but the Uruk-Hai kept flowing. The first level's defences were falling though the battle had only begun.
On the battlements the archers fired down on the forces moving through the gate but it proved difficult. They had to come up with a plan. Legolas quickly turned around and fired down upon the Uruk-Hai in the courtyard. Some of them noticed and began moving up the stairs to the battlements. Legolas stood at the top of the stairs and shot them down one by one. But it seemed for every Uruk-Hai that fell, another three took its place. Soon Legolas could hold them back no longer. He slung the bow over him so it was resting on his shoulder and drew his knives as an Uruk-Hai stepped in front of him. Legolas was about to stick his blades in its stomach when the beast suddenly stopped, then fell to the ground. In front of Legolas was Gimli, whose axe was stained with blood. "First kill," he said.
Legolas grinned as they begun their killing contest and turned towards the rushing Uruk-Hai. Most of the archers had noticed the commotion and took the Uruk-Hai by surprise when they were shot down. The rest concentrated on the enemies at the gate. Down in the courtyard, most of the soldiers had been killed and the rest were being forced back up the slope that led to the second level. They needed help, and they needed it fast. Legolas put three arrows in his bow and let them fly. Each one hit a separate Uruk-Hai and each one fell. He continued, but it was not enough. He knew he was falling behind in the contest as well. Putting his bow back around his shoulders, he drew his knives and jumped of the wall. The Uruk-Hai he landed on stuck its sword out and turned around, chopping the head off the soldier behind it. Legolas jumped off and began fighting through to the men on the slope.
Gimli, who was chopping down Uruk-Hai coming up the stairs, saw Legolas jumped off and shouted down in annoyance. "You can't do that you pointy-eared cheat! Well, let's see how I fare down below." He held his axe above him and jumped off. He landed on another Uruk-Hai, but lost his balance and fell on the ground. He could see the cold grin of the Uruk-Hai's mouth beneath its helmet. As the creature brought its sword up, it let out a roar of pain as Gimli hacked at its legs. The dwarf quickly stood up and started chopping through towards Legolas, who had reached the soldiers and was firing at the attackers. Many Uruk-Hai fell to his arrows, but it was not enough. The stream of Uruk-Hai was endless.
Legolas saw Gimli appear at the bottom of an Uruk-Hai that had just got hit between the legs. The dwarf rushed out beneath his latest kill and hurried over to Legolas. As they continued to fight back they talked about the contest.
"How many so far, pointy?" asked Gimli.
"I'm on thirty thr- four," Legolas replied as he shot an Uruk-Hai.
"Ha! You're falling behind! I've got forty-two!"
Suddenly an Uruk-Hai appeared in front of Gimli, taking him by surprise. Before Gimli could strike it fell to the ground. He saw Legolas pointing his bow where it had stood. "Thirty-five," he said
Suddenly every Uruk-Hai, inside and outside the city, started chanting. They started chanting one word over and over again. The Uruk-Hai in the city moved to the side, forming a line between the two groups of soldiers. Through the gate a lone figure walked: their leader.
"Sa-ru-man! Sa-ru-man! Sa-ru-man!" As they chanted, he walked into the city, looking around with his black eyes. When they turned to the soldiers, fear overcame them. Legolas felt the same but it did not freeze him in place. "Fall back!" he commanded. The group didn't even blink. "I said fall back! Retreat! That's an order! Move!" There was still no response, not even from Gimli.
Saruman the Black stopped a few paces in front of the group, then chanted the only spell that he ever used. "Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul!"
As he uttered the final words he lifted his arms and his staff. When he finished the spell he struck the ground with his staff. A crack appeared at his feet and the entire ground shook. The soldiers fell down, but the Uruk-Hai didn't even stumble. The vibration knocked the soldiers out of their state. The crack got bigger as it moved towards Legolas and the group. "Move!" shouted Legolas. They didn't need to be told twice and started running to the second level, Legolas following swiftly. The Uruk-Hai kept chanting as the crack got closer. The ground shook again and Gimli was knocked off his feet. Legolas turned round and saw the Uruk-Hai rushing forward. He bent down to pick up his friend.
"Go on without me," Gimli protested. "I'll fight them off long enough for you to escape."
"I'm not leaving without you," Legolas replied as an Uruk-Hai raised its sword. An arrow came out of nowhere and shot it in the neck. Legolas looked up to the battlements and saw some of his archers. "We'll hold them off my lord," one of them said. Legolas quickly hurried away, carrying Gimli on his shoulders, as arrows came down on the Uruk-Hai following. They were fast but an elf is faster, even with a dwarf on his back, and Legolas soon outran them.
*****
As the Uruk-Hai ran started running to the next level, a commanding voice spoke. "Leave them." The Uruk-Hai turned to face Saruman. "Their time will come, but for now, we must increase our control on this level. Place guards around the base of the second floor. Burn everything down here. Kill every citizen. Do not move forward until I give the command. Move the army into the city."
The Uruk-Hai moved back to carry out their master's commands, but it did not take long. Within a few hours plumes of smoke rose from the buildings. The first level was like a ghost town. Once it was done, the entire army of Uruk-Hai moved into the city. They moved into formation and prepared to march. Legolas and Gimli saw this as they reached the top level. They knew of the fate that awaited them and almost all hope vanished from their souls. The battle had only begun, and death was rapidly approaching.
So how will Minas Tirith fare? Keep reviews coming and you'll find out. I'm planning for the battle to take 2-3 chapters at least, so there'll be plenty of action.
