Disclaimer: I have no creative rights over the characters and places you can identify in this story and have no way profited from this work.
14/04/2013
CGKrows: You've succinctly described some of the key questions I keep asking myself in order to make this story work. I recall that Cap was sworn in as US President a few months ago in the Ultimates line but I agree with you about his modesty to be a king. I'm very much looking forward to writing the confrontation with Saruman.
Avengerscrazygirl: My social studies classes were a lot more boring than yours seem to be ;)
PleiadesWolfe: I still have a long way to go in finalising the details of the battles fought in The Return of the King for this story. But I do intend on making them as epic as I possibly can.
Chapter 25 – The Aftermath of Battle
With the Uruk-hai destroyed, the survivors from the Battle of Helm's Deep went about assessing the damage to the fortress and seeing to their wounded and the dead. While Eomer's reinforcements made the task of handling the thousands of corpses scattered across the battlefield easier, it did not make the task any less heartbreaking.
Theoden had not allowed the women and children hiding within the Glittering Caves to be let back out yet. The King wanted to first clear the Hornburg of all Uruk bodies. Only 117 of the original Rohirrim defenders at Helm's Deep had survived this battle. And more than half of these survivors had sustained injuries that needed treatment. The families of the dead Rohirrim would soon have to identify and mourn their remains where they lay. The bereaved shouldn't also have to contend with the sight of an ugly sea of orc corpses.
The corpses of the defenders – both Rohirrim and Galadhrim – were to be buried in a mass pit currently being dug in the dead ground behind the Deeping Wall. The corpses of the Uruk-hai were to be piled and burned in the valley outside the walls of Helm's Deep. The Rohirrim didn't mind removing the countless Uruk corpses located within the bounds of the fortress to these piles. The ground within Helm's Deep was sacred as far as the surviving defenders were concerned. Their fallen comrades' final resting-place would be desecrated if orc remains were disposed of within the fortress.
Rogers was currently walking along the ramp that connected the Inner Wall with the top of the Gatehouse. Rogers had finally taken his mask off for the first time in hours. He was walking towards the spot on the Gatehouse where he left his Howling Commandos before driving back the attack on the Main Gate. Fortunately, no other Howling Commandos fell after he ordered them to collect unused arrows. Rogers marvelled that these half dozen boys, despite everything they had been through, wanted to help him bury their fallen brothers, cousins and friends that were part of their unit. Rogers told them to wait in the armoury until he came for them, as he first wanted a few moments alone with the fallen Commandos.
Rogers was quickly able to find all the bodies of the fallen Commandos. They had all fallen in roughly the same location within a few yards of each other. Looking at some of their wounds, Rogers guessed the vast majority fell at the hands of the Uruk-hai that managed to storm the Outer Wall. He looked at Haleth's body and crouched down to cover his still open eyes. Rogers remained crouching as he reflected on all the young boys that had been conscripted to the defence. The majority of them had shared the fate of the dead Commandos.
Rogers had recalled a quote of the Duke of Wellington's prior to this battle starting. At this battle's end another quote of the 'Iron Duke' seemed appropriate – Next to a battle lost, the saddest thing is a battle won. Rogers knew that Theoden wasn't a bad man by any means. The King faced a dire situation in defending against some ten thousand genocidal Uruk-hai. Given the way Theoden broke down at Theodred's burial mound, it must have been immensely difficult for him to order something that would certainly lead to many other children becoming casualties of war.
But Rogers still thought there were some lines that should never be crossed no matter the situation. Nations that valued the lives of the most vulnerable of their people would never use child soldiers. This compared to tyrants who were willing to treat anyone as expendable in their pursuit of power. Rogers was appalled that many governments and warlords of twenty-first century Earth had no qualms following the Nazi's example of using children as cannon fodder.
"Steve?"
Rogers' ruminations were interrupted from behind by a concerned Boromir's question. Rogers stood up and looked at his friend who was just a yard behind him.
"I'm not blaming myself if that's what you're worried about, Boromir," Rogers replied.
The Captain of the White Tower well knew something else was gnawing away at his friend. Even Captain America needed mental healing from the tragedies of war.
"What were you thinking then?" Boromir encouraged him to talk.
Rogers let out a tired sigh. "Look, we're from worlds apart. But we both volunteered to be career military. We both know the score."
"Score?" Boromir asked for clarification.
"The risks that come with the job," Rogers explained before continuing. "Death can come from enemy attack, the elements, incompetent orders or just plain dumb luck. As a professional soldier you understand that." Rogers then turned and looked at the dead Commandos. "But did they understand? Even right up to when the orcs killed them?"
Rogers then released the burning anger that had been building inside him ever since Theoden first ordered every 'strong lad' to be drafted into the defence.
"They were just kids dammit!" he angrily exclaimed. "They didn't even have a choice! As a father himself, how could Th-"
Rogers bit his lip before denouncing Theoden further. He didn't want to disrespect the fallen Rohirrim around him by criticising the King that many of them had been willing to die for.
Boromir was not surprised by Rogers's outburst. Having earlier been told by him, Rogers was technically decades older than the Gondorian. But Rogers was still a young man at heart. Rogers's idealism often reminded Boromir of that possessed by his younger brother, Faramir. Boromir recalled one of the many conversations he and Rogers had while the Fellowship rested in Lothlorien.
"Faramir's always been the quiet and reflective one of the pair of us," Boromir described his younger brother. "Even when he was commissioned Captain of Gondor's Rangers – that's our elite scouting force – he said to me, 'War must be brother, but I do not fight for a warrior's glory. I fight for our city and the descendants of the Men of Numenor who reside within it.'"
"A soldier, even a super-soldier, is only as strong as his ideals," Rogers argued. "I'd rather have fighting beside me one soldier like your brother than a hundred super-soldiers fighting for personal glory."
"I very much wish my father was here part of this conversation, Steve," Boromir said after reflecting on Rogers's argument."It would do him well to hear a great warrior like Captain America speak of Faramir in those terms."
When the Fellowship eventually came to Minas Tirith, Boromir hoped that there would be the opportunity for him to introduce Faramir and Rogers to each other. He was confident his younger brother would quickly form as close a friendship with Captain America as he had. Boromir began comforting Rogers who still had his back turned to him.
"It's indeed a cruel and unfair world where underage boys are forced to lay down their lives in defence of their country". After a pause, Boromir then added, "But you're wrong, Steve, about them not understanding."
Rogers turned around and faced Boromir with a puzzled look on his face.
"Everyone saw how those boys were before the battle started," Boromir began explaining. "They were lonely, confused and frightened. But after making them your Commandos, they all rallied to you. They carried out your orders without hesitation. Even when the Uruk-hai were on the Outer Wall, and the other defenders were dying all around them, I didn't see one of those boys turn and run. Even though none of us would've blamed them if they did." Boromir then firmly squeezed Rogers's shoulder to underline the sincerity of his concluding words. "Those boys were willing to sacrifice themselves because they understood Captain America wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice himself for each and every one of them."
The two men embraced and Boromir allowed his good friend to weep upon his shoulder.
Legolas and Thor were just outside the breach in the Deeping Wall. Thor had earlier taken off his helmet for the first time since donning it in the armoury. They were farewelling the survivors of the Galadhrim company that had survived the Battle of Helm's Deep. Given the Galadhrim suffered the full brunt of the Uruk-hai assault on the Deeping Wall they had suffered a much higher level of casualties than the Rohirrim in the Hornburg. There were only eleven of them including Haldir who had his wounded arm in a sling.
The surviving Galadhrim were mounted on the horses of fallen Rohirrim. Theoden had given them these mounts to aid a swift return to Lothlorien. The Galadhrim had given the Rohirrim one of their company's two banners at Theoden's request. The banner would be carried with all the others that normally accompanied him when holding court away from Edoras. The Galadhrim banner was symbolic of Theoden's promise to Haldir that Rohan would never forget the sacrifice of the Elves at Helm's Deep. Theoden also vowed to improve the Horse-Lords' relationship with Lothlorien once the War of the Ring was over.
"I understand the reasons for your company's departure," Legolas told Haldir in the Common Tongue. "You have my word as a Prince of Mirkwood that our fallen kin will be buried with the full honour they deserve."
"Your offer's accepted with the thanks of all Galadhrim," Haldir humbly replied.
Thor intervened after a moment had passed. "The shadow of war now falls upon the Golden Wood also?"
The Marchwarden nodded in reply, welcoming the opportunity to change subjects somewhat.
"The White Hand has been defeated," Haldir confirmed. "But Sauron will soon wage all-out war against all who oppose him. Our fallen kin would want us to return to Lothlorien with all haste to aid in its defence. As well as all the lands of the Free Peoples in the North."
"When you return to Lothlorien perhaps you can please do me a favour?" Thor asked.
"Prince Thor, you saved my life!" Haldir exclaimed. "I'm yours ever to command."
Thor gave a nod of appreciation before saying "Please tell Lady Galadriel that I still greatly prize the helm she gave me. But the opportunity to fight alongside her Marchwarden and chosen warriors was a far greater gift to me."
After giving a proud smile in response, Haldir answered, "I shall pass on your message to the Lady. I shall also tell her about your feats in this battle. When she hears about them, I daresay there's even the tinniest risk that the Lady will be surprised for the first time in centuries."
Legolas and the Galadhrim gave each other a solemn sounding farewell in Sindarin before the latter commenced their journey back home. After this, Legolas and Thor walked over the Uruk corpses that littered the path to the breach in Deeping Wall. After they had passing through the breach, they made for Gimli who was a few yards south-east of it. The Dwarf sat on an Uruk corpse whose skull still had his two-handed axe buried in. He was contentedly smoking on his pipe looking very satisfied with himself. Both Legolas and Thor stood to Gimli's left with the Elf closest to the Dwarf.
"Now," Thor began as seriously as he could. "The three of us have a serious matter to settle."
Gimli's eyes narrowed before he withdrew his pipe from his mouth.
"Before you get too excited, Odinson," Gimli sternly intoned "Legolas and I had a good chat while you were showing off on the Causeway."
Thor decided to have some fun. "I'm glad my actions allowed the pair of you respite. But you needn't thank me, son of Gloin."
"That's not what I meant, laddie," Gimli grumbled at Thor's ribbing. "I'm talking about our competition. Legolas and I can't summon like you can. On that basis, you're only allowed to count the orcs directly struck with your hammer."
"That wasn't a condition before we started it!" Thor replied in mock indignation.
"It would've been if the 'God of Thunder' told us he was talking about himself!" Gimli shot back.
"You forget, Thor," Legolas smugly reminded him. "Ours is a Fellowship of equals. The opinions of two outweigh that of one."
Thor released an exaggerated sigh before relenting. "Very well then. I'd hate both of you feeling completely embarrassed."
Despite their banter, there was no doubt among the three that Thor had won the competition. The condition Gimli and Legolas had imposed was so there wasn't too large a gap between their tallies and his. There was also the matter of professional pride at stake between Legolas and Gimli over which of them had the highest tally.
Legolas proudly pronounced, "My final count…forty-two."
"Forty-two?" Gimli condescendingly observed. "Oh, that's not bad for a pointy-eared Elvish princeling." He then revealed with a self-satisfied smile, "I myself am sitting pretty on forty-three."
Legolas rapidly drew an arrow and shot it into the Uruk corpse was Gimli sitting on.
"Forty-three," Legolas added to his tally.
The conversation suddenly took on a serious turn.
"He was already dead!" Gimli pointed out.
"He was twitching!" Legolas insisted.
"My friends!" Thor intervened. "Such arguments should be beneath us. Look around you. We are among the few at the start of this battle who lived to see its end. We should be grateful for that alone. Most of our comrades weren't so fortunate."
Legolas and Gimli were chastened by Thor's observation. The latter released a sad sigh.
"Aye, that's true," Gimli conceded before drawing on his pipe again.
The trio noticed that Gandalf, who had dismounted from Shadowfax, was walking towards them. Just before the White Wizard reached them, the God of Thunder spoke to his fellow competitors with a twinkle in his eye.
"Besides," Thor casually added. "Based on your condition, my final count was five hundred and ninety-two."
Legolas's jaw dropped in response to Thor's final tally. Gimli violently choked on the pipe-weed smoke he had inhaled.
"That's a nasty sounding cough you have, Gimli," Gandalf coyly observed upon joining the trio.
"The three of us were merely reflecting on our fortunes in this battle," Thor smugly replied.
As Gimli's cough began spluttering out, Thor took a step towards Gandalf and put a hand on the wizard's shoulder.
"One of them being your timely arrival with Eomer's men," the Asgardian graciously acknowledged.
"Oh, a wizard is never late, Odinson," Gandalf gently instructed Thor. "Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when means to."
Thor gave a wry nod of understanding. "Your judgment in precise timing was proven on another matter, Gandalf. You saw yourself my powers returned to me this battle." Thor then voiced an underlying frustration. "Even if they weren't at full strength."
"Your powers are growing stronger even as we speak." Gandalf reassured him before enigmatically adding, "Even those you still haven't been able to call on…"
Before Thor could fully ponder the meaning of this, the rest of the Fellowship joined the group. Aragorn, Boromir and Rogers had come down from the Hornburg to join their four friends at ground level. Gandalf noticed the emotionally drained looks the trio had.
"And how fares the Men amongst us?" Gandalf asked with a mixture of politeness and concern.
"We hope never to be part of a victory like this ever again," Aragorn grimly reflected.
Gandalf gave a compassionate smile as he imparted, "The day we become comfortable with the cost of a victory, son of Arathorn, is the day we cease to be the Fellowship and take on the likeness of our Enemy."
"Speaking of which," Rogers started. "With Helm's Deep saved, what's our next move?"
"A good question, Captain America," Gandalf agreed before revealing his answer to it. "I shall soon be heading towards Isengard escorted by a small company including Theoden and Eomer. The six of you are most welcome to join us."
"When, Mithrandir?" Legolas enquired having finally got over the shock of Thor's tally.
"Tomorrow morning, young Greenleaf," Gandalf promptly stated. "We leave immediately following the memorial service for the fallen. Before facing Saruman, Theoden first wishes to tend to the needs of his people here. Both in comforting the living and making a down payment on the immeasurable gratitude they owe the dead."
"That's understandable," Boromir concurred. "Still, assaulting the Orthanc won't be easy. "
Boromir had never directly visited the Orthanc before. But as Gondor built the Orthanc, Minas Tirith contained many documents that outlined the layout of the fortress. Remembering what he saw in these documents, Boromir thought that breaching the Orthanc's defences would be hard enough with an army. Let alone if those defences weren't protecting an individual like Saruman.
"Our business in Isengard is an affair of wizards, Boromir," Gandalf revealed.
Captain America intervened, his original question wanting information about something else.
"I'm sorry, Gandalf," Rogers interrupted. "That's not what I was asking about."
Seeing the puzzled looks he was getting, Rogers gave an awkward grin before explaining what most interested him.
"I was hoping you'd tell us when we'd all be seeing Bruce, Merry and Pippin again!"
More than an hour had passed since the River Isen had flooded the Orthanc. The water level within its perimeter came just under the thighs of Merry and Pippin. The pair was standing near the rubble that was once the Gatehouse. Their attention was focused on Hulk who continued his attack on the Tower of Orthanc from atop.
"I wonder how much longer Hulk's going to stay up there?" Pippin casually asked Merry.
"I'm not sure, Pip," Merry similarly answered. "I'm even beginning to feel sorry for Saruman. Hulk's pounding must've given him a terrible headache by now."
Hulk leapt to the Pinnacle more than an hour ago. The Tower had suffered more damage in that period than over the last three thousand years. Three out of the Pinnacle's four horns had great chunks torn out of them. The only one that hadn't damaged contained a doorway into the Tower, still protected by Saruman's earlier spell. Hulk's relentless pounding of the Pinnacle's floor had caused a number of hairline cracks and fractures to form along the Tower's exterior. But, much to Hulk's frustration, he still hadn't been able to cause a breach in the Pinnacle. The Avenger very much wanted to give Saruman his thoughts on the ex-Istari's plans to capture him and the Fellowship's hobbits. By 'thoughts', Hulk meant to beat Saruman into a bloody smear.
Hulk eventually stopped his assault after running out of ideas to break into Saruman's seat of power. Much to his regret, the residual effects of the vortex also meant Hulk still wasn't strong enough to topple the Tower over at its base. The Other Guy now turned his attention towards Merry and Pippin.
Treebeard and the Ents nonchalantly observed Hulk leap off the Pinnacle before soaring over a distance of nearly half a mile. Hulk eventually landed some fifty yards in front of Merry and Pippin. The ground beneath the two hobbit's feet shuddered from the impact. They were also drenched by the floodwater Hulk had displaced.
"I thought it was 'Hulk Smash' not 'Hulk Splash'!" Merry indignantly told the Avenger.
Hulk laughed (more a series of light growls to everyone else) at Merry's remark before steadily shrinking in size. Merry and Pippin kept their distance as the green-skinned Avenger turned back into Banner. The man was initially disorientated from the Other Guy's longest appearance since coming to Middle-earth. Drawing on his martial arts training, Banner began steadying himself with in a series of deep breaths. After regaining his bearings, Banner turned his attention to the two hobbits. The first thing he addressed was the pair's recent soaking.
"Sorry, guys," Banner sheepishly apologised. "Neither of us meant that to happen."
"Bruce!" Merry and Pippin exclaimed at his return.
The two quickly wadded through the water before embracing him.
After finishing their group hug, Merry asked Banner, "How are you feeling, Bruce?"
"The best since coming to Middle-earth," Banner proudly reflected. "At least the Other Guy will now come out when we need him. Even if he's not at full strength yet."
"Well…that's good news." Pippin cautiously replied.
Like Aragorn and Boromir, the Took found it difficult to speculate how much stronger Hulk could get. His speculation quickly ended when the trio noticed some movement from inside the Tower. With Hulk's attack finally ceasing, Saruman and Grima felt secure enough to peer outside the hole where the balcony used to be. The Fellowship could tell by the pair's body language that Saruman and Grima were staggered by the extent of the White Hand's decisive defeat.
"Does the Other Guy want an encore, Bruce?" Merry asked, wanting to know if Hulk wanted to re-commence his personal grudge match with Saruman.
Feeling a much-welcome sense of calm, Banner shook his head.
"Saruman will keep for now," Banner said on his and the Other Guy's behalf.
"If only I could keep my hunger at bay also," Pippin hinted about his highest priority now.
"Good luck trying to find something decent to eat around here," Merry bitterly observed as a result of his own hunger pains. "Probably dead rats and mouldy bread."
Merry had no sooner said this than a juicy red apple floated by Pippin from behind. Then another one. The Fellowship turned around and quickly began following a trail of these apples. The trail seemed to be coming from a doorway on the part of the ringed wall that faced the Orthanc's interior.
The doorway led into a rectangular storeroom that had been carved into the thick interior of Orthanc's ringed wall. A barren table bench was in the middle of the storeroom. The source of the apples was an upside down basket floating on the floodwater that had penetrated into this room also. But in front of trio were four more baskets of apples. These apples were dry though as they were placed on a bench three inches higher than the floodwater level. There was also a selection of cold meats, dry meat and fish, cold roast chickens, loaves of (unmoulded) bread, a variety of cheeses, a healthy supply of butter and many small casks of wine and ale.
"Well, I think that takes care of any hunger problems for now," Banner ruefully understated.
Pippin and Merry made no response, as their attention was totally fixated on two small barrels on the bench.
"I don't believe it," Pippin quietly remarked.
"It can't be!" Merry gasped.
The cousins eagerly grabbed one of the barrels and ripped its top off. A wide smile burst across both their faces as their hopes had been realised. Banner was at a loss to know what this barrel contained to have taken the pair's attention away from the food and drink arrayed before them. The cousins took a deeply appreciative smell of the barrel's contents.
'Longbottom Leaf," Merry happily identified them. "The finest pipe-weed in the South Farthing!"
As the doctor in Banner rolled his eyes at this, he noticed to his left a doorway leading into another storeroom. He went to explore this storeroom as Merry and Pippin eagerly began preparing their pipes.
The storeroom Banner entered was similar in design to the one that he had just exited. Instead of food and drink, far less perishable items rested on the bench that ran across its southern wall. This included pewter plates and cups, expensive looking silks and what appeared to be items of silver and gold jewellery. Resting on the bench was a small chest. Opening it, Banner found it stacked to the brim with roughly cut silver and copper coins that all seemed to have some version of a horse embossed on them. Banner had no doubt that all these items had been looted from Rohan by Saruman's forces. Towards the end of the bench, Banner noticed a much larger wooden chest. After opening it and viewing its contents, Banner gave a similar smile like Merry and Pippin did after they found their pipe-weed.
In the first storeroom, Merry and Pippin started preparing lunch. Merry had opened one of the ale casks and was pouring its contents into three wooden mugs. Pippin was putting a spread on two large wooden platters. They both had noticed Banner walk into the adjoining storeroom several minutes ago and were keen to ask what he had found in it.
"Bruce!" Pippin called out. "Sam said you don't eat meat. I can make you some cheese on toast if you like."
"That'll be fine thanks, Pippin." Banner said from the adjoining doorway.
Merry and Pippin turned to look at him and released a tiny gasp. Banner wore a long-sleeved, fine suede robe that reached down to his thighs. The robe was black in colour with entwined gold patterns around its turned-up collar, hem and at the end of its sleeves. If nothing else, the vertical line of gold buttons in the middle of the robe indicated it was a nobleman's. Banner also wore a pair of thick black cotton trousers and a pair of black felt boots. The tops of the boots were just peaking above the floodwater.
With an awed grin Merry complimented Banner on his new attire by asking, "You didn't find any other clothes like that roughly hobbit-sized did you, Bruce?"
"I'm afraid not, Merry." Banner replied in good humour before soberly remarking, "It was looted from Rohan. So I'm trying not to get too comfortable wearing it."
"Well," Pippin argued, "unlike your clothes, all this food will be going off in a few days anyway. I'm sure the people the food belonged to will be especially – as you put it – 'ok' that the three heroes who defeated Saruman are the ones who prevent it from going to waste."
"Don't let the Ents hear you say that, Pippin!" Banner laughed. "Even the Other Guy mightn't be able to protect you from their reaction."
Joining the spirit of the discussion, Merry added, "I wouldn't be so sure, Bruce. A Hulk draped in black would be a pretty fearsome sight for anyone."
At this, Banner became quickly sullen with a frown on his brow. Banner looked at the ground seemingly lost in thought.
"Is everything alright, Bruce?" a concerned Pippin asked.
"I'm…not sure," a perplexed Banner advised. "For some reason, a weird thought just popped into my head. "
Looking at Merry and Pippin, Banner informed them what the thought was.
"It was along the lines of hoping black isn't a colour the Other Guy ever takes a liking to…"
Deep within Caras Galadhon, Galadriel had been observing Banner, Pippin and Merry through her Mirror over the last few minutes. She could see their interactions in the storeroom but couldn't hear them. Not that it mattered. Observing countless silent discussions through her Mirror over the centuries meant Galadriel was a superb lip reader.
When Galadriel used the Mirror and it showed her an event currently taking place, it sometimes projected the emotional undercurrent of her own thoughts to one of the event's participants. The participant would get a sense of these feelings while not knowing they were coming from Galadriel herself. It was one reason why Galadriel used her Mirror sparingly least her powerful mind overwhelm the participant's own. The Lady of the Golden Wood knew how especially dangerous this was when a participant had the Incredible Hulk as part of their personality.
Galadriel silently reflected on Banner's remarks with the slightest trace of a satisfied smile.
Many dangers still exist for the Avengers, Bruce Banner. But be comforted the three of you being killed by corrupted Hulk is no longer one of them.
I thought it was appropriate the Lady herself reveal that one of the potential outcomes Cap saw in Galadriel's Mirror has been prevented from happening.
The quotes of Rogers and Faramir that formed part of Boromir's recollections were paraphrasing of other ones both characters had spoken in source literature.
Following movie-verse, this story has now reached the end of The Two Towers. Things will be settled with Saruman before the three Avengers play their part in the cataclysmic events of The Return of the King.