The battle commences!
I draw my bow, taking aim at a vulnerable spot in an Uruk's armor before releasing it in sync with the row of Elves beside us. I see my target fall, only to be trampled on and its place is quickly taken.
"Did they hit anything?!" Gimli asks, jumping up in down. I have no time for a reply however as we ready our next volley, after that, it's a matter of firing at will, losing as many arrows as you can within a short amount of time. Many Uruks fall, but it's barely a dent in their numbers. And when they return fire, I see Elves start to disappear from the wall.
Ladders are placed near the wall and pulled up against it. We prevent them from getting that far up where we can, but some reach and bows are quickly traded for swords.
During the fighting, I catch wind of Gimli and Legolas holding a tally. If it weren't for me being pre-occupied, I would have set them straight. I have no luxury of such time however as I need to focus on the onslaught happening on the wall.
I swing around, beheading the Uruk looming over me, before kicking its falling body over the wall and into others that are scaling the it. Next, I whip around to defend Gimli who had his back towards an Uruk that has its eyes on the dwarf. Quickly I slice it, before relieving that one of its head as well.
As I continue hacking and slashing, something catches my eye. Something is alight down there. Freeing myself from the battle, I take a moment to look at it properly. A bad feeling overcomes me when Aragorn calls out towards Legolas to shoot down the Uruk-hai carrying the torch, flickering in a white light.
I bend over the wall next to the elf, taking aim. We hit it several times, but this one is not easily slain and we can only watch in dread as it throws itself forward and into a weak spot in the wall. Moments after, all is in disarray as rock, man and elf go flying. An explosion caused a breach in the wall. A terrible turn of events it is.
As the dust settles, I find myself crouched with my back against the wall, breathing rather hard from the shock. "Are you alright?!" I can hear Legolas call next to me over the noise. I nod rigidly, crawling back to my feet. "I'm fine." I reply, looking around to survey the damage. Uruks are flowing inside. I'm sure no one ever expected this to happen. Saruman's army came well prepared.
I gather my bow and make an effort to thin out the flow of Uruks barging into the keep. My eyes widen in alarm when movement catches my eye and I see Aragorn down there, struggling to get to his feet. He must have been caught up in the explosion. "Aragorn!" I call, watching the man who is about to be trampled by the enemy.
Gimli who is not far off, reacts quickly and literally jumps down the wall and right on top of them. I have little time to applaud the stout dwarf as his life is now threatened. However, Aragorn has gotten to his feet, a host of Elves gathered behind him. He gives the order to fire, making them do so before they rush at the enemy that continues to flood inside head on.
Standing and still firing at the edge of the breach, I see Legolas slide past me on a shield and down the stairs, firing while he goes. "Show off." I mutter, smirking when he sends the shield flying and into an Uruk in its path.
During the fray, I hear the order to fall back to the keep. Aragorn repeats the order, calling up to those still on the wall. In answer, I rush along the wall, covering those who cannot retreat otherwise. The amount of men and elves quickly thin out and seeing the continuous flow of Uruks, I decide it's time to go before I find myself cornered. I jump off the wall, making a run for it.
Once I've gathered some distance, I see Aragorn rushing back up the wall, much to my surprise. Following his line of sight, I see that the marchwarden is in great trouble, having been cut down. I fear the worst for our friend and swallow hard as Aragorn catches him, but he has come too late to be of any help. Haldir moves no more. Losing him is a great loss and his aid will not be forgotten. There is no time to grieve though.
Taking a deep breath, I yell at Aragorn to get out of there before the same fate befalls him. Using a ladder, he drops down, taking a few Uruks with him while he's at it. He then makes for the gate that is at the verge of bursting apart, Gimli hot on his trail.
From my position, I cover the retreat of the wounded until they have been brought to safety before moving to gather arrows and taking to higher ground. I wish I could fly out and take down the leaders among the army, cause some disarray, though I realize that it would probably only make me a bigger target. I will be shot down before my feet so much as leave the ground. It's frustrating to have an advantage that is a disadvantage at the same time, rendering me unable to make proper use of my wings in time of need.
I spot another part of the wall under siege. It's higher up, deeper into the keep. On top are many men, who find themselves assaulted by the tall ladders brought up to the wall. Seeing this, I rush over, jumping from stone to wall until I reach them.
"Cut the ropes! Do not let them reach!" I call out, dodging an entering hook fired from below. My blade quickly cuts the rope before it finds hold of something. The men rush forward to hack at the other ropes and succeed in letting one ladder after the other far back down, crushing the poor souls who still stand in its path. Sadly, more come and manage to clasp onto the wall before something can be done about them.
I blink as an arrow whistles by, cutting the rope of one of the ladders still on its way up. It soon joins the others on the ground. Following its path of flight, I find a familiar elf, way back on the Deeping wall. He has already turned to other matters, but I still send him a silent thank you. I don't think I've ever seen any such skill with a bow as Legolas'.
Putting my bow on my back, I pull out my sword, cutting down the first Uruk of this round as I do so. As we try our best to defend this part of the wall, we soon find ourselves in over our heads. I'm not surprised when the call is made to retreat.
"We're stuck!" calls out a soldier fearfully, seeing that we are surrounded from all sides. Looking around, I see that our only way out has crumbled. The gap is not big, but just enough so none can jump across. But when a ladder, not too big, on the other side catches my eye, an idea comes to my mind.
Feeling the need to give these people a change of survival, I must do what is necessary and release my wings, knocking down some Uruks, as I made sure to position myself correctly.
The men gasp at the sight of me while I sail across the gap. Crouching down, I take hold of one end before rounding on the few stray soldiers near me. "Help me make a bridge!" I order, glowering at them as they hesitate. Finally, they comply.
Flying one part back to the cornered soldiers, we place the ladder across the gap and I urge the men to cross, making sure not too many of them do so at once so it will hold. I am covered by archers from the other side, keeping the Uruks at bay until the last man has crossed.
To their surprise, I tip the ladder off of my side of the gap, making sure the enemy can't follow. Knowing I have little chance to fight them, I dart up. Keeping my wings tucked as close to me as possible, I glide over the keep, aiming for a window of the hall, where the others must have retreated.
I'm nearly there when the inevitable happens: an arrow digs into the mass of feathers and flesh and I groan as I come to a rough halt at the edge of the window. Crawling through it, I startle the men inside as I jump down unceremoniously, breaking a table as I land on it.
"Ah, there she is! You had me worried lass when we didn't find you here." Gimli calls out, running up to me and helping me to my feet. "You've been hit!" Legolas calls out worried as he too approaches.
"I've had worse as you might recall. Can you take it out?" I ask, seeing it has gone all the way through. He nods, taking hold of it while Gimli supports my wing, looking quite awed by the feel of it. With that, Legolas breaks the arrow, sliding it out of the flesh quickly. It wasn't too painful, but it will leave a scar, no doubt.
I heave a sigh as I retreat my wings. Surely I have done smarter things, but at least I could safe some men. It was worth it.
Looking around, I size up the looks on the faces of the men in the hall. They differ from fright to amazement. "What?" I ask bluntly, snapping them out of it. Aragorn manages an amused smile.
Everyone's attention is brought back to the doors as it is being rammed from the other side. Soldiers hurry to place everything in front of it that they can find before also holding it with their bodies. I quickly run over to aid them whatever way I can.
Meanwhile, Aragorn speaks with the King, who seems to lose himself in despair. "So much death. What can men do against such reckless hate?" he wonders, his voice drenched in his despair.
Aragorn thinks for a moment before speaking up: "Ride out with me. Ride out and meet them." he urges. This seems to do good as Théoden looks back at him with newfound determination. "For death and glory." he states. "For Rohan. For your people." Aragorn corrects him before Gimli speaks up: "The sun is rising."
The meaning eludes me for a moment, before it comes back to me. "Gandalf." I breathe out. I had nearly forgotten all about it.
"Yes. Yes! The horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the deep one last time!" the King calls out. "Yes!" Gimli cheers, quickly rushing out of a back passage. "Let this be the hour when we draw swords together. Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath! Now for ruin! And a red dawn!" Théoden calls determinately, preparing himself for a final charge.
The horses are brought to the hall and Legolas pulls me back from the doors, ushering me on top of his horse before placing himself behind me. The doors are nearly breached and we wait.
Shivers run up my spine when the horn is sound. The noise ripples throughout the entire keep and beyond. Just then, the doors give way and our enemy stands before us. "Forth Eorlingas!" Théoden calls, making the horses bolt forward and we meet our enemy head on.
I cut down every Uruk that comes within my reach and steadily we make our way forward and onto the causeway beyond the destroyed gate. Before us, a massive army still resides, but I realize it will not last as a loud neigh sounds from the hill to our side. Looking up, my eyes immediately locate Gandalf and hope fills my heart.
He is not alone for long as more and more riders joins him. He has found the Rohirrim! The Uruk-hai have noticed this as well and look around troubled, before dividing their forces to set up defenses.
At Gandalf's side, Éomer gives the signal and with that, a flood of horses and men rush down the hillside. And aided by the rising sun, the enemy is momentarily left blinded, leaving the path open for the Rohirrim. A slaughter ensues.
With newfound courage, we jump into the fray ourselves, taking down every last Uruk that dares to stand in our way.
Giving up, the remaining Uruk-hai flee the battle, and we drive them out of the area and towards the forest ahead. This catches me off guard however. "I do not remember there being a forest here." I state, gasping as I swore I saw them move.
"The trees are angry and have come to deal with those that have cut down so many of their kin." Gandalf explains. "Amazing." Legolas breathes as the last of the Uruks disappear into the tree line. I flinch when the trees start to sway followed by the squeals of distress and pain from the Uruk-hai. "I don't think I'll ever dare to breathe a bad word about any tree again." I breathe out shakily. They are scary.