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Chapter 25: The Colour Of Blood
Something terrifying stalked the halls of Minas Tirith.
Tess stomped unhappily down one of the many corridors in the house of the Kings of Gondor, her bare feet slapping against the cold marble floors. She was once again in the blue dress, her hair pulled back with the gold circlet encasing her skull and a nasty scowl plastered across her features. Denethor had asked her to join him for dinner again and had nonstop asked insulting questions of her; although they were probably not that bad in theory, the way in which he asked them she found insulting.
"You are not married? What is wrong with you?"
"Twenty-one years of age? Almost past the age where you are useful!"
The endless comments he made about his youngest son's incapability had done nothing for her either, Denethor's voice grated on her nerves until the very end of the meal.
"Stupid, ungrateful assho-," She was cut off when she turned the corner, her face promptly meeting a masculine chest. As the air rushed out of her own chest she tried to step back, her foot catching on the hem of her dress and tripping her. Within the span of five seconds Tess was on the floor and breathless, her anger evaporated into mild shock. It was then that the chuckling started.
"Are…are you alright?" Standing above her with a hand over his mouth was Faramir, loud chuckles heaving through his chest as he tried to suppress laughter.
"I suppose you think this is funny?" Tess asked raising an eyebrow, a large snort ripping through her at Faramir's crinkled face.
"Y-Yes!" He coughed his chuckles down and helped Tess up.
Both of them burst into a long laughter.
The black sky stretched endlessly above Naomi, the stars like tiny beacons of light that broke through the darkness.
'Since when did I get this so damn poetic?' She mused as she dropped her head to her chest again. Her gaze dropped to her hands as she fiddled with the plain piece of cloth clenched tightly in her grasp. She let her finger trace the sharp shape of an N and the soft curve of one the L's.
"Veneema…" She said softly in wonder; that was what Legolas had called her work.
"Aamun mila eeli….umaleamin…," She mumbled, trying to remember all the Elvish words Legolas had taught her.
'Legolas…the Elven Prince of Mirkwood…'
"What on earth are you talking about?"
Her head snapped up to lock onto Aragorn's approaching form, two bowls and a small loaf of bread in his hands.
"I uh…well…i-it's nothing I just uh…" Naomi stuttered over her words, wringing the cloth in her fingers nervously.
"You need not tell me, I was only curious as to what you were saying…something from your old world perhaps?" He asked handing her a bowl as he sat down. Naomi had positioned herself by one of the most deserted fires, as such it was only small, but it provided all the warmth and light she wanted whilst being quite. Théoden King had said it was best to stop and rest until dawn; the horses and the men needing rest after such a sudden rally that morning. Naomi had immediately moved away from the group to gain some sort of peace to think in.
"Here," Aragorn tore the loaf in half and gave her one, silently she nodded her head in thanks and together they ate. It was a filling soup, full of potatoes, carrots, meat and barley soaked in stock. Her stomach gladly accepted the meal.
"Elvish…I was trying to speak…Elvish," Naomi said softly when she'd finished, pulling her blanket around her shoulders tightly though she was not cold.
"Where did you learn the words?" Aragorn asked as he pulled out his pipe, lighting it and blowing out a puff of smoke.
"It's just stuff that Legolas has told me at one stage or another…"
"I see," The ranger took another long breath in, letting out more pale smoke. For a long time they both just sat lost in their own thoughts, neither willing to disturb the other.
"Aragorn?" Naomi asked diffidently after a time. Blue eyes flicked over to her and she took that as a sign to go on.
"When the war ends, would you have, I mean if she was still here, would you have married Arwen? Even though you're not as immortal as she is?" Whatever Aragorn had been expecting; it was defiantly not this.
"I…have not had time to dwell on such thoughts-,"
"Aragorn. Just answer the damn question,"
He fell silent for such a long time that Naomi didn't think he was going to answer at all.
"If her father had allowed it; I would have asked her in but a heartbeat," Something on the man's face had changed and inside Naomi felt a great sadness for both Arwen and Aragorn.
"You both truly love each other," She muttered under her breath, her eyes returning to where she was fingering her stitch work again.
"Did…did it hurt to let her go?" Aragorn looked at Naomi again, suspicion heavily placed out in his features. He'd heard the slight catch in her voice.
"Naomi, before you think any further along the path you feel you might take know this; the race of the Elves love most times only once in their long lives and that is because one of the few things they can die by is a broken heart," Her heart stilled in her chest at the thought of Legolas broken. His blue eyes glazed and lifeless, his hands cold, his heart locked away deep within him forever.
She tried calling to him but he did not move, not even when her hands traced the sides of his face. The skin there was frozen, even colder than the ice found atop Caradhras. This chill was one that only came with the end of a life.
Death.
Die.
Dead.
Gone.
It took Aragorn's hands wiping her cheeks and rubbing her heaving shoulders for her to come back from her horrible thoughts. She was a shock at just how much she was crying, of the level of grief that consumed her through the mere thought of Legolas gone forever. She breathed in another sob; the image was still too fresh in her mind.
"I ju-I ju-I just want the b-best for him," She managed as she clutched the handkerchief to her chest. Her heart was beating hard, making it difficult for her to breath.
"Do you not love him?" She only had to look at him for that to be answered.
"Then there is nothing for you to fear," the pair looked up at the new voice and Naomi felt a new wave of tears wash over her cheeks.
'Legolas…!'
He took slow steps towards them, his eyes set on Naomi's.
"I ca-I ca- I…I can't," Nothing would work for her; her words fell apart in her mouth and her hands were shaking harder than ever. Aragorn moved away letting Legolas take his place before her.
"It matters not to me if you are not immortal," He said smoothly as he folded his hands over Naomi's.
"All that matters is that I am able to be with you," Little hiccup sobs escaped her mouth as she raised one of her hands to his cheek.
"I do- I don't…know why I'm so…emo-emotional," She gave a watery smile and used her sleeve to wipe her face as Legolas open his arms.
"I love you!" Naomi launched herself into his embrace and buried her face into his neck as more sobs shook her.
"A'maelamin, mellonamin, arwenamin, mela en' coiamin…you will always have my heart,"
He whispered into her ear as he cradled her, only making her hold him tighter.
"Forever?"
Soft lips pressed against the side of her head.
"Forever,"
"Here do I swear fealty and service to Gondor, in peace of war, in living or dying, from…," Pippin closed his eyes for a moment, hesitating at the words he was about to say.
"From this our henceforth until My Lord release me, or death…take me,"
"And I shall not forget it! Nor fail to reward that which is given," Denethor said cheerfully; standing and bending down to Pippin so that he may kiss one of the many rings on his fingers. Faramir and Tess both stood off to the side, watching as Pippin swore service to be a Tower Guard. With a pat on Pippin's face Denethor moved over to a table that was being set up with his lunch.
"Fealty with love, valor with honor…" Pippin slowly stood to hear the rest of his lord's words, but Tess was sure that he knew Denethor was no longer speaking about Pippin.
"Disloyalty with vengeance," After a pause Denethor sat, pulling his sleeves back slightly as he picked items to place on his plate.
"I do not think we should so lightly abandon the outer defenses, defenses that your brother long held intact," He was changing the subject and with her heart falling Tess realized what he was going to talk about, what was going to be asked of Faramir.
"What would you have me do?" Faramir asked, standing stiffly beside her.
"I will not yield the river in Pelennor unfought," Tess was finding it hard to breathe as everything in her dream came to life.
"Osgiliath must be retaken," Denethor said it so simply, still picking up food from platters that he placed onto his metal plate.
"My lord, Osgiliath is overrun," Faramir tried to reason, to which his father looked up momentarily to retaliate to.
"Much must be risked in war," Silence fell momentarily over the hall and Tess could no longer contain herself.
"My lord if you would please listen to me!" The words burst from her mouth as she stepped forward several paces, until she stood next to the granite table. Denethor's features gave nothing away as he paused in his dining. She had to swallow deeply before she could continue.
"My lord Denethor," She began, "It is a most foolish move to send out a company of soldiers to try and retake Osgiliath! It is not just any couple of squads that took the river but the army that Sauron is going to use to try and breach the walls of Minas Tirith!" Her hands were in fists by her sides as she took another breath to continue.
"Unless Gondor has an army bigger than the Dark Lord's-,"
"The men of Gondor are far stronger than a bunch of filthy Orcs-,"
"-there is no way of taking back Osgiliath like you plan to, instead you would-,"
"-it would not take all that many to reclaim the city, so there is no problem in sending-,"
THUMP.
The cutlery on the table shuddered violently as Tess slammed her hand down on its shiny surface. Her face was almost red with outrage and at any other time it would have been a comical contrast between the cool colour of her blue dress.
"You would be sending your only living son on a suicide mission! Not to mention other innocent men that have families to care for!" She yelled at Denethor, who sat with a heated glare as she continued.
"Do not waste the lives of the citizens so carelessly! Not when you have no actual army to defend this city! You will need every sword you can get when the forces of Mordor fall upon Minis Tirith!" She panted uneasily, stray strands of hair falling into her eyes as she waited for a response.
Denethor blinked once slowly, before turning back to his meal.
"Is there a captain here who still has the courage to do his lord's will?"
Everything Tess felt dropped at this dismissal her whole body turning to Faramir. Pippin also shifted his gaze to the Steward's son, who glanced at them both for but a second before clearing his throat to speak. What he said however was not what any except Tess expected.
"You wish now that our places had been exchanged…that I had died and Boromir had lived," Faramir's eyes were starting to turn a pinky colour as he tried to hold back what Tess suspected were tears. Everyone waited in anticipation for Denethor's reply and even thought she already knew Tess hoped deep inside that somehow Denethor would not say the words he was about to.
"…yes. I wish that,"
A small breath left her chest as she closed her eyes against seeing Faramir's grief, she had already seen it once.
'Please…please Faramir…don't do it!'
Her hand against the table was helping to steady her as she waited for the crushing answer Faramir was going to give.
"Since you were robbed of Boromir…I will do what I can in his stead," Faramir bowed deeply to his father before turning and walking towards the doors. Tess could feel tears collecting under her eyelids as his voice rang out again.
"If I should return…think better of me, Father," With that said Faramir turned and continued walking, not even stopping to listen to Denethor's reply.
"That will depend on the manner of your return,"
Faramir continued on, his heavy footsteps fading the further away he walked until finally the large doors groaned and the sound disappeared entirely.
Breathe.
Breathe.
Breathe.
Snap.
Tess' eyes flashed open and a viciously snarl resonated from the bottom of her chest. Her left hand lashed out and smacked into a beaker of wine, the metal jug hitting the ground with a loud crash. The contents spilled across the front of Tess as she stepped forward to grip the front of Denethor's robes, the rest of the wine falling to stain the white marble floor in a brilliant red splatter.
"You are a heartless monster, your greed killed Boromir and now your stupidity will kill Faramir and that makes you a murderer," She managed between gritted teeth.
Denethor sat stoic, raising only a hand to signal two guards in the shadows to come forth.
"Since you feel so strongly that Faramir's company will fail in their task to take back Osgiliath, perhaps you should be sent with them?" Two crippling hands landed on Tess' shoulders, pulling her back from Denethor.
"Take her to the armory; she is to join the second squadron in their mission to take back Osgiliath," Denethor dismissed them with another wave of his hand, both guards taking one of Tess' arms to take her away.
"YOU WILL PAY FOR YOUR ACTIONS DENETHOR!" She screamed at him, struggling against the two men holding her. The golden circlet around her head slipped off, dropping to the floor with a tiny clang, coming to a final resting place in the middle of the wine puddle.
"Innocent deaths will forever be on your shoulders!"
Pippin watched the events with horror, his face stricken with fear as he watched his friend dragged away, towards what would no doubt be her death. He couldn't see her face, her head was bowed against her chest where the wine had stained the blue dress a dark burgundy colour.
The colour of blood.
The hobbit's breath came in small gasps as he watched her disappear from the hall, the doors closing with a low boom.
For a long time no sound was heard except for Denethor's lunching and the sounds of maids cleaning up the wine.
"Can you sing, Master Hobbit?" The voice shocked Pippin from his deep thoughts.
"Well…yes, at least well enough for my own people." Denethor continued eating, paying what to Pippin felt like little attention.
"But we have no songs for great halls...and evil times," Silently he hoped Denethor would hear the bitterness in his voice, but he did not or ignored it.
"And why should your songs be unfit for my halls?" With a pause in which he used to look at Pippin, he silently let on that he was not going to acknowledge the hobbits underlying tone.
"Come, sing me a song," With that he went back to his food, chewing noisily and messily.
Realizing he had no choice Pippin took a small breath before starting an old song he had learned several years ago.
"Home is behind
The world ahead
And there are many paths to tread
Through shadow
To the edge of night
Until the stars are all alight
Mist and shadow
Cloud and shade
All shall fade
All shall…
-fade…,"
Pippin finished his song a looked up at Denethor, who sat greedily eating while his own son departed on a suicide mission. The emotions inside the usually cheerful Took bubbled over and silently he let his tears fall.
The midday sun beat down against Naomi's head as the company rode into Dunharrow, horses and men standing almost everywhere she looked. She rode Hasufel up the front behind the King and next to Éomer, who had rejoined them earlier that morning after going as far across the east of the Riddermark as he could. The smell of smoke and horse was strong enough to make Naomi's eyes water and quietly she thanked er lucky stars that she would be staying up on the mountain with her friends. The mountain was part of an entire range that stretched from up near Isengard right down to Minas Tirith as Aragorn had told her, although the name of it now escaped her. People from all sides shouted greetings and numbers to the King as he rode past. Without meaning to her eyes strayed the Legolas' back, or at least what she could see of it past Gimli. Arod twitched uncertainly every now and again, but soothing strokes from Legolas calmed him easily.
'I'm going to need soothing strokes in a minute,' she thought grimly as they came to the base of the mountain. King Théoden was first up to climb the one-horse-only path, followed by Gambling, Éomer, Aragorn, Eowyn and Legolas with Gimli. Naomi waited patiently on Hasufel, the idea of maybe getting down and walking up tempting, beside Merry on his pony. The two let several other riders go on ahead of them, both deciding it would be best to go last up for there would be no pressure to go fast.
"So…who's going first?" Naomi asked with an audible gulp.
"I've never much cared for heights," Merry admitted, craning his neck up as Naomi was.
"Heights I'm alright with…falling? Not so much," She turned to look behind her, just to make sure couldn't possibly stay on the ground level.
"Well, here goes everything," With a nudge in Hasufel's sides they moved onwards, up around the first bend.
"I'll be right behind you!" Merry called as he and his pony started up as well.
"It's easier for you! You're on a pony that's a third the size of the path!"
"Don't make it any less unnervin'!"
Somehow, the higher they got the more foreboding the mountain seemed to be. By the time she reached the flat camping grounds that seemed to be cut into the mountain, Naomi felt as if she was going to hurl. Hasufel as well seemed to be on edge, along with the rest of the horses near the rock backdrop. She spied Legolas and Gimli talking to Éomer as he unsaddled Firefoot.
"…nervous in the shadow of the mountain," She heard the housemaster say, as all three of the males looked to the mountain, Naomi looked over as well as Hasufel came to a stop beside Gimli. A peculiar path lay in the middle of what should have been solid rock, stretching on fairly far before twisting out of sight.
"That road there…where does that lead?" Gimli asked, voicing Naomi's thoughts exactly.
"It is the road to the Dimholt, the door under the mountain," Legolas answered, his eyes widening slightly as he stared.
"None who venture there ever return," Éomer spoke, eyeing the path warily.
"That mountain is evil," With that said Éomer moved off, leaving the three to ogle at the mountain.
"Well…it's gonna be interesting to try and sleep tonight, what with that standing over my head," Naomi said with a raised eyebrow as she casually lent against the pommel.
"It's probably jus' ghost stories, nuthin' to really worry about lass," Gimli said patting her foot before going off to find Aragorn.
"Here, I'll help you," Legolas offered as she dismounted. Together they quickly worked to unsaddle and groom Hasufel, Naomi fetching him some food before they moved off.
The light of the afternoon was starting to fade, covering the land below in gold and orange as the sun began its decent into night. Together they came to a halt near the edge of the encampment, it was quieter here and the sentries didn't pay them much mind. With a sigh she lent her head against Legolas' shoulder smiling when his arm reached around to pull her into his chest for a hug. In the back of her mind Naomi knew there wouldn't be many of these chances left before the battle. Her arms tightened around his waist, her fingers clutching the back of his shirt. On impulse she pulled her head back slightly and was pleased when her lips more another pair.
"I can't help but feel like I want to forget everything that's happening when I'm with you," She said with a content sigh as she tucked her head under Legolas' chin.
"When this is all over, we can,"
The last rays of sun turned a pale cream as it dropped from sight behind the line of trees.
Hidden deep within the White City sitting on an old crate was an old man, dressed in white that turned the colour of cream in the last fading light.
His crinkled face was morose as he stared into nothing, wondering whether any of the people he cared for would make it through these dark times.
His staff rested against his right shoulder, his sword at his left hip. Both he wielded for the sake of protecting people, yet neither had been able to save them from the mindless mission they'd been sent on.
In the distance a bell sounded as an acknowledgment to the soldiers that went to defend the city of Minas Tirith and of their task to protect the people that lived within.
A red stained circlet lay still in his withered old hands.
It was never to be worn again.
Naomi wandered the camp looking for Gimli and stumbled across Eowyn exiting a tent with Merry, who was dressed in Rohirric armor, waving a short sword around in a semi-professional fashion.
"To the smithy! Go!" She encouraged with a smile as he ran off to the blacksmith.
"You should not encourage him, Eowyn," Éomer said as he took another bite of bread. He and Gamling sat outside the tent by a small fire, finishing the remains of their evening meal.
"And you should not doubt him," His sister retaliated.
"I do not doubt his heart, only the reach of his arm," Naomi sneered at the man and at Gamling as well as the two chuckled at Éomer's joke. With a carefree smile plastered on her face Naomi quickly strode past, "accidently" whacking the two across the back of the head with the sheath of her sword.
"Oops! Sorry," With a wink to Eowyn, Naomi continued on passed to look for Gimli. What she found was significantly less Dwarf like, but she was happy with an Elf as well.
"What are you doing?" She asked when she saw him readying Arod.
"Aragorn is going to take the road to the Dimholt-,"
"The ghost trail?"
"Yes…Gimli and I shall be going with him," Naomi's heart faltered slightly.
"No Naomi?" Legolas stopped in his preparations and turned to face her, sadness ringing in his eyes.
"No…Naomi will not be coming with us," With a deep sigh Naomi reached her arms out and wrapped them around Legolas' middle.
"Naomi has to stay and make sure Merry and Eowyn don't do anything stupid…I should probably keep an eye on Éomer as well," She mused, partially to herself.
"And Legolas must make sure Aragorn and Gimli are safe, not to mention keeping himself safe as well," as she pulled back she couldn't help the couple of tears the rolled down her cheeks.
"I will see you again," Legolas muttered against her forehead, kissing it gently before kissing her lips.
"I must go," He whispered, pulling back again. Mutely Naomi nodded before taking his hand and wrapping it around her handkerchief. Quickly she kissed his fingers before hugging him a final time.
"Stay safe," with that he turned and took Arod's reins, moving swiftly away.
"Legolas!" The words burst from her mouth as her feet moved her forward. The tears that cascaded down he cheeks somehow seemed silly, but she let them fall non-the-less.
The Elf turned the same moment Naomi crashed into him, throwing her arms around his neck as she pulled his lips down to hers. His response was quick and his arms slid around her waist, holding her tightly against him. For several long moments they moved their lips against each other's, as if the longer they kissed the easier it would be to remember the feeling. At last they pulled back and gently they let the other go.
"I love you, you know that right?" She asked with a smug little grin. Legolas' fingers traced down the side of her face, resting against her lips for a quick moment.
"I know,"
It was hard letting him go and not saying goodbye to the others, but she feared she may change her mind if she moved from the spot where she stood. Tears dripped off her chin as she hugged herself tightly and that was how Eowyn found her, who was in a fairly similar state for a different reason.
"It-It seems rather pathetic crying when the men around us d-do not," Eowyn admitted as she walked to stand before Naomi, crisp tears dripping off her own pale chin.
"N-Not pathetic, we're just cooler than th-them because we're cute when we cr-cry where as they look like p-pansies," both women chuckled through their tears for a moment, but only for a moment. Arms flew around her neck and Naomi heaved another sob, wrapping her own arms around Eowyn as well.
"Naomi! Naomi wake up!"
"Nnngh…fi more min-es,"
There was even another few seconds for her as someone yanked her blanket off.
"Cold!" With only her undershirt on the brisk morning air was indeed a shocking surprise.
"Come Naomi! You must get ready! We are to depart in but moments!" It was Eowyn, dressed completely in men's clothing.
"Eowyn…," Naomi moaned as she sat up, taking her pants from the floor beside her and pulling them on.
"I thought we talked about this!"
"I will not be left behind!"
For most of the night Naomi had tried to persuade Eowyn out of riding with them to battle, with little success. With a deep sigh Naomi stuffed her undershirt into her pants before lacing them up.
"Fine, but make sure you find Merry and the two of you keep safe! I will ride up the front with your uncle and report back to you whenever I can,"
"Thank you!" The shield maiden's arms flew around Naomi's neck for a moment, before Eowyn shoved the woman's blue tunic into her face.
"Did you make sure Arod and Brego are in the line for extra horses?" She asked as she slipped the material over her head.
"Yes, they will be far at the back of the line, but they will be coming with us,"
Everyone had been slightly panicked when the two horses arrived back late at night, completely rider less.
'They're fine…Legolas said that it was a door under the mountain, horses can't go under mountains…like Bill when we were going through Moria,' Naomi mused to calm her fear. The two women had ensured that the horses would be coming with the company so that when they met up in Minas Tirith Aragorn and Legolas would have their steeds.
'Because they will be in Minas Tirith,'
"Quickly! Quickly!" Eowyn encouraged as she wound up her hair and pulled on a helmet to hide her face.
"I'm coming!" With her sword around her waist and bow and arrows on her shoulder Naomi left the tent, hopping on one foot as she pulled on her left boot.
"Hasufel is already saddled, I will see you as soon as time permits," Eowyn said hastily as she led Naomi around to the chestnut horse. The two embrace quickly before Naomi was boosted up.
"Stay safe and good luck," With a last squeeze of her Naomi's hand Eowyn disappeared into the crowd.
"You ready Hasufel?" Naomi smiled when the horse pawed at the ground, feeling the excitement of the men and other horses around.
"Let's do this then!" She urged him on and in no time at all was travelling down the hillside once again and other people around her prepared. It was an organized chaos as fires were put out, horses saddled and men worked quickly everywhere.
"Théoden King!" She called as she got closer to the front of the masses, said man turning slightly in his seat to see her as she rode up just behind him. They nodded to one another, no words needed to show that Naomi was with them and that the King appreciated it.
"Ride! Ride now for Gondor!" Théoden's voice rallied men left and right as finally they left Dunharrow. Naomi knew that they would be riding into a war, but at the moment she let a little smile grace her lips. It was exciting, riding with six thousand horses and men. It was easy to believe at that moment the forces of Mordor would stand no chance.
Meanwhile in Minas Tirith, the forces of Mordor grew ever closer.
The dark clouds were almost upon the white city and the people within did all they could to ready themselves for the attack. At the very top of the City a hobbit rushed out behind his lord to a broken man on a stretcher.
"Faramir!" Denethor cried as he ran to his son, moving quickly across the yard.
"Say not that he has fallen!" He said sorrowfully as he knelt beside Faramir's head.
"They were outnumbered," Iorlas told Denethor, though the Steward very well knew what the numbers had been like.
"None survived,"
Pippin felt his heart crush in his chest.
He had lost Faramir and Tess, only one of their bodies had been returned to the City at all.
"My sons…are spent," Denethor said as he stood and backed away from Faramir.
"My line has ended," Pippin rushed forward the Faramir's side, letting the deranged man walk away with his sorrow. As the hobbit knelt by his friend he discovered something extraordinary.
"He's alive!" Pippin's eyes traced over Faramir's body, taking in the wounds and think of what could be done to save him.
"He needs medicine, my lord!" But Denethor would not listen, instead he wailed about the end of his line. Pippin's shouts fell on deaf ears as the Steward lay eyes on the forces outside his city. His lip wobbled as he took in the sight, the unbeatable number of orcs that would no doubt be within the City in minutes.
"Rohan…has deserted us," He muttered to himself as the first of the catapults were fired, boulders flying in a smashing through a tower with ease.
"Théoden's betrayed me…,"
Screams were starting to resonate up through to his ears, only just audible over the chanting of the Orcs.
"Abandon your posts! Flee! Flee for your lives!" He bellowed to the citizens, there would be no escaping once the Orcs made it into the city. As he turned however he was stunned as a white staff met his forehead. Gandalf stood before him, pausing only to sneer at the cowardly Steward before hitting him in the gut and the back of his head, rendering the useless man unconscious. With that seen to Gandalf stepped up to the edge, his loud voice echoing strongly through the people.
"Prepare for battle!"