"You are to stay with me Pip." Susan said as their horse galloped down the city. "I'll keep you safe." She added almost to herself.
"Susan look!" cried the hobbit pointing to the west side of the city. Susan urged their horse to the edge for a better look. They were at the fourth level when the Pip called her attention. "They're here!"
"Thank Aslan!" said Susan when she saw an army who just arrived. Even from a distance, she could tell they were humans and not orcs, assuring her that help has finally arrived. And though the orcs far outnumber them, she felt relieved knowing they stood a better chance of surviving the battle. She felt sure too that Legolas was among the company of men, and that was the greatest assurance of all.
"We have dallied long enough." The human said. "Are you ready?" she asked.
Pippin unsheathed his sword as a reply. Once they reached the second level, it was clear that the first level was overrun. Susan halted their horse and jumped down and grabbed Pip and settled him on the ground. "Remember, stay close to me Pip."
Susan, followed by Pippin, went inside an abandoned house and climbed to its terrace. She thought that they stood a better chance of killing their enemies without getting hurt if she could draw her weapon from afar. She then proceeded in doing just that. Looking out on the Pelennor fields below, she noticed that the human reinforcements, though highly skilled were still outnumbered by the orcs.
"Pip! What are those beasts?" Susan asked when she saw the soldiers charging head on oversized elephants carrying warriors.
Pip gasped when he saw them. "Those are oliphaunts." He replied. "I never thought I'd see one in my lifetime."
"Oliphaunts." Susan repeated. "It's a shame they're being used on Sauron's side." Susan closed her eyes when she saw one beast swipe the helpless soldiers from the ground and sent them flying in the air.
"Susan!" Pip cried pointing at the orcs below so the human resumed in shooting arrows ignoring the tiredness of her sore arms. Pip had to content himself in throwing rocks at their enemies below.
"Na fennas!" Omdír was shouting. Gandalf shouted: "Fall back to the third level!" Susan saw that the second level too was breached.
"Run Pip!" shouted Susan as they ran down the house they entered. Pippin had to draw his sword as he was quickly pulled into battle as they were confronted by half a dozen orcs. Susan had to fight for her life once more when she and Pip were quickly surrounded by their foes. I must not die she thought. She wondered not for the first time what would happen on Earth if she would die in Middle Earth, the same thoughts that ran on Peter's mind as he faced King Miraz.
Tired and overwhelmed, Susan was unable to parry one orc as it grabbed her throat and squeezed. "Such foolishness." The orc hissed. "Do you fear death?" Then the orc cried as if in great pain and dropped Susan. The human took great gulps of air, grateful she was released when she felt someone grab her up and said: "Run child now!" Automatically obeying, she looked for Pip and carried him like a child and ran towards the doorway to the next level. Looking down, she saw that it was Thranduil who saved her and a number of elves who were retreating step by step as they shot their arrows like a blur. Susan recognized the elves as those that came from Mirkwood. She helped fell more orcs just in time to see the elves escape.
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Legolas felt for the first time in days that they may defeat Sauron and his forces after all. He, with Gimli and Aragorn, was climbing down the mountain overlooking Pelargir, a port now controlled by the marauding Corsairs. He noticed that Aragorn was presently standing straighter with the new found hope that the army of the dead presented. His thoughts then settled on a certain gentle queen who he missed terribly. He dare not entertain the notion that they might be too late upon reaching the white city. Such thoughts made him quicken his steps more. He knew that at least his father would send reinforcements.
"We'll save the white city and its inhabitants my friends." Gimli said noting the worry on his elven companion's face. The dwarf realized how burdened Aragorn and Legolas were and sought the words that might bring them a little comfort.
"There is hope master dwarf." Aragorn agreed. "Come let us hasten to board the ships that would sail to Harlond."
"The attack should be swift that they would not be able to flee." Legolas added.
Aragorn nodded and said: "Should everything go according to plan, we'd reach Minas Tirith before the sun sets."
Once they settled at the foot of the mountain, they waited till one of the ships was close enough. The ships were dark intimidating vessels carrying fleets of men from Umbar. Though they were men, they have allied themselves to Sauron.
"You may go no further! You will not enter Gondor." Aragorn shouted, his voice carrying over the waters clearly.
"Who are you to deny us passage?" replied one sailor. His tone was both incredulous and heated.
Aragorn softly said: "Legolas, fire a warning shot past the bosun's ear." The elf promptly drew an arrow to his bow.
"Mind your aim!" reminded the dwarf. Legolas was surprised when Gimli deliberately moved his bow just as he fired the shot, causing him to miss his mark instead killing one sailor. The dwarf ignored Legolas' stern look and seemed enjoying his own mischief.
"Oh! That's it, right!" Gimli said. "We warned you! Prepare to be boarded!"
Infuriated by the death of one of his men, the captain shouted: "Boarded! By you and whose army?"
"This army." Aragorn said simply as the Dead Army materialized behind him and moved swiftly to attack the corsairs. The panicked and terrified men tried to escape, some jumping over the ship while others instinctly drew their weapons to fight. But all their efforts were in vain, as the ghost army wiped them out.
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Susan needed a minute. She was near collapsing when she stumbled towards some fallen rocks. She settled down there for a moment and closed her eyes still not letting go of her bow. Her arms ached not to mention her whole body. The blow on her temple and her bruised neck added to her pain.
"Susan…" she heard a voice softly but was too tired to open her eyes as she let her back rest on the wall behind her. "Susan!" said Pip a little louder. With an effort Susan briefly opened her eyes and said her voice a little faint: "I just need to rest for awhile Pip."
"When did you last sleep Susan? Or eat?" asked the hobbit very much concerned. He asked a little loudly for the air was filled with shouts and explosions. Scurrying elves and men were fortifying the gates while some shot some arrows on their foes from below.
"A day ago I think." She replied weakly. "But the last I took a bite was more a day ago. I don't remember."
"Here." she heard Pip say as she felt cool water flow to her throat. She greedily drank the water finally realizing her thirst. She opened her eyes and saw the hobbit gulp some drink when she was done. "How…." She began.
"I never go out unprepared." Pip said proudly. "I might die by the sword but I swear never by hunger." He continued as he produced a piece of bread from his bulging pockets. "I snatched some from Denethor's table." He replied to Susan's questioning gaze.
"Your gluttony my dearest hobbit would be the saving of us." Susan exclaimed bolstered by the provisions. "I could kiss you right now." She joked.
Pip blushed and said sheepishly: "I wouldn't complain if you would." Susan laughed at that while sitting up preparing to get up.
"If you were two feet shorter, I'd ask you to marry me." He added seriously. Sighing, he said: "One can dream…"
Susan quickly remembered an earlier proposal, an offer she rejected. "Susan, don't cry." The hobbit said alarmed. Surprised, she touched her face and felt the moistness. "Don't mind me much Pip." She said. "I might be more tired than I thought." She was not sobbing but she couldn't stop the copious tears from flowing.
Swiping her tears away, she said: "Thanks for the nourishment Pip. I'm ready to enter battle once more." She wanted to distract the hobbit knowing that she would break down if she gave full reign to her emotions. Pulling her worried friend up, she led him up a tower and started to use her weapon once more. She had to wipe her eyes once in a while to clear her blurred vision for she was still crying. Oh Legolas if I could see you now I'd beg for your forgiveness she thought. If he died before knowing what was in her heart, she wouldn't be able to forgive herself. She finally realized that her logic in dealing with the elf would cause her more heartache for any single moment now with Legolas would be worth so much more than a hundred years without him. Also for though she retained her mind, she lost her heart to him in Lothlórien months ago.
"Oh Aslan." She prayed thinking of Legolas. "I hope we survive this." NO! she reprimanded herself, they would survive. She has to believe that. Aslan would not let her die without redeeming herself and without hope. Though it was easy to surmise that they would all fall at Minas Tirith, Susan let her heart for the first time tell her that they won't, and that she'll see Legolas again.
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"Pirate scum! Always late!" Lugdush, one of the commanders of Sauron's army exclaimed when the ships of Umbar docked at Harlond.
As if on cue, Aragorn jumped off the ship followed by the elf and dwarf. Surprised, the orcs held their weapons prepared to attack. They wondered what could have happened to the Corsairs of Umbar for all the hundreds of warriors seemed to be missing.
The three approached the orcs without fear as Gimli told his elf friend: "There's plenty for the both of us, may the best dwarf win."
The Army of the Dead appeared from behind and advanced swiftly to the orcs who tried running in fear. The ghost soldiers were able to wipe out all the orcs at the harbor in less than an hour. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli followed them in their wake destroying any dark soldier that gets in their way.
"Thirty, thirty-one….." the dwarf recited as he kept count of all his enemies that fell by his axe. He noticed that his elf friend was far ahead of him shooting down and striking down orcs without pause and intent on reaching the white city as quickly as possible.
Legolas saw one lumbering mûmakil coming his way. He ran towards it and climbed on its trunk as I tried to swipe him off the ground. Holding on to the arrows embedded on the beast's body, he effortlessly reached the animal's hind legs and finally its back. The Haradrim soldiers attacked him as he approached but they were no match to his archery skills and one by one they fell. The elf then swung his way down and cut the harness that was holding the large saddle like object holding the soldiers and the beast's master. And as they dropped to the ground pulling Legolas up the mûmakil's back, he quickly pulled three arrows and ran towards its head and shot the great beast down. He ended his assault sliding down its trunk and onto the ground much to the dwarf's irritation.
"That still only counts as one!" Gimli exclaimed though he was much impressed. He then doubled his efforts in killing their foes.
Legolas didn't even look back but continued his way towards the city, his heart pounding due to adrenaline and fear. He would only pause for a few seconds to scan the injured men checking for signs of alabaster skin and blue black hair. He was grateful to the ghost army for they have almost cleared the way of any Haradrim or orcs still the ground was covered with wounded and dead soldiers both men and orc. His anxiety increased when he saw the battered great door of the city. He was already shouting Susan's name as he scoured the first and second levels. But now that their enemies were dead by the hands of the ghost warriors, the city was eerily quiet except for the faint groans of hurt Gondorian soldiers and elves. When he reached the third level, his voice was hoarse as he continued shouting her name and his eyes darted frantically all over the place in search a slight raven haired figure.
He heard someone call his name and grab his shoulder. "Legolas." Thranduil said. Though glad that his father came and was alive, he just blurted: "Susan? Where's Susan?" His father, immediately understanding, said: "I asked her to run to this level during the heat of the battle. She is with a Halfling somewhere here."
Then he saw her out of the corner of his eye and quickly went to her side. He felt his heart tighten when he saw her bruised and leaning on a wall her eyes closed with Pip watching over her. Fearing the worst, his voice broke when he called out her name when he was about ten feet away. Susan opened her eyes when she heard his voice. When she saw him, she could not help the joy from her voice. "Legolas!" she said as she stood up. In next second she was in Legolas arms and almost crushed in his embrace, with her feet dangling as he lifted her off the ground. Pip discreetly left as he finally understood what happened at the throne room days before.
"You're alive." Said the elf his voice muffled in Susan's hair. "My mind has wandered and I have tormented myself with thoughts that you're gone. What would I have done then? How could I go on?" he rambled.
"Hush." Susan replied her eyes closed contentedly. "I'm alright now. We both are." Such was her happiness of seeing him again that when he pulled back to look at her, on the tips of her toes, she pressed butterfly kisses on his face, then finally locked her lips with the elf's. Legolas momentarily stiffened, surprised for she has never initiated a kiss. But he was not one to reject such a sweet offering and lost himself in her lips.
Getting hold of his emotions, Legolas pulled away for he badly needed to know what Susan felt and if her heart was open to him now. Putting a puzzled Susan down, he took a deep breath he asked: "My dearest Susan…I know you have fears of us, of your place in Middle Earth, but I gather that you have accepted what is between us." Not looking away he continued: "Tell me. Do you recall my proposal when we were at the meadow?"
"Yes." She answered.
"Do you think after this war, we could…" he continued.
"Yes?" she asked urging him.
"Has your feelings for me changed since then?" he asked his hold on her firm.
"No." she replied for it was true. He had her heart since they met. His visage clearly showed his hurt and pain but Susan pulled his head down and gave him a smile that he loved so much: "No. My feelings for you have never changed for I've loved you all this time." She said then kissed him again but not before seeing the elation in his face.
After their intense kissing totally oblivious to where they were, Susan said: "You can put me down now."
Obeying her but still not letting her go the elf asked: "So does this mean you'd marry me?"
"I don't normally kiss an elf you know." She said lightly, reminding him of what he said back in Edoras.
Exasperated, he insisted: "Well?"
"Of course I'd marry you Legolas." She answered then on a more serious tone: "Although I still fear to be taken away anytime, I do believe now that anything is possible. Being so close to death made me realize nothing is certain anyway. And if I'd be leaving soon, I'd rather spend whatever time I'd be given with you."
Hugging her once more he replied: "I love you so my queen. And you have brought me so much joy and comfort." Then as an afterthought: "And torment and worry and all other emotions." Just then he noticed the marks on her neck and cheek and groaned. "I understand that you were instrumental to this victory in war. I just wish that you wouldn't get hurt." He said and then he bent his head and proceeded to place feather light kisses on her bruised throat.
Still heady by all the emotions Legolas' incites in her but now more aware of their surroundings, an embarrassed Susan tried to stop him. "Legolas!" she began, then seeing Thranduil she felt a little relieved. "Your father approaches." She whispered. "He saved my life you know."
The elf straightened up and looked behind him, with one arm still around Susan's waist. Trying to will back the blush on her cheeks, Susan looked up to see the face of the one who rescued her. She was relieved to see him smiling as he approached them.
"Father, I have chosen my bride." Legolas said. That was straight to the point Susan thought as the blood came rushing back to her face.
"I'm happy for you my son." Thranduil replied. Then looking at Susan he added: "I've never met a braver and gentler child."
"Thank you." Was all she could reply with the excessive praise. Being regarded as a child no longer bothered her.
The elder Greenleaf then looked at his son and said: "There is much work to be done. After which, we are to convene at the court."
Suddenly remembering her fallen comrades and friends, Susan berated herself, for in Legolas' arms it was easy to forget the raging war. "I need to tend to the soldiers too." She told them.
"Then I'd leave you two now for I have matters to discuss with the wizard." Thranduil said.
Alone again, she told the elf her voice breaking: "I also need to….to do a count…of any soldiers from Lórien." Glad that he could provide her comfort this time, Legolas replied: "They died for a good cause, their deaths were not in vain. They have lived long lives and have served their the time of the elves is almost over; there is great hope in men. I see it in Aragorn, in Theóden and in Éomer."
"I know." Susan replied. She suddenly remembered how old Legolas was. Her old fear of the difference in their life expectancies threatening to overwhelm her but she beat it back. Smiling at him she said: "I'll see you later after we've done our duties." She tried pulling away but Legolas held on her. Looking up quizzically, the elf gave her a thorough kiss in response before letting her go.
"Pardon my queen for I can't seem to get enough of you." He said when he let go of her.
Slapping his arm playfully, she replied. "Go now." Then they parted.
As she went to check on the soldiers and tended to the wounded, accompanied by her shadow Pip, Susan was not plagued by despair. She was not bothered by her tiredness nor the bruises that marred her body. Instead she couldn't help but be grateful in how the battle turned out in the end, how more people and elves survived that she thought would when they were first faced by the great army of Sauron. She was not weighed down by logic but saw hope and possibilities instead. "Thank you Aslan." She whispered her heart at peace at last.