AN: Alright, I've decided what to do with Haldir, but I'm not telling you ;)
It took little time to alter the battle plans to include the Lorien Elves and soon enough we were all lined along the walls awaiting the coming storm. I stood next to my companions, we stood as one. Man, woman, Elf and Dwarf. Quiet a formidable force if I have ever known one, and I have known plenty.
The drumming of hides and armored feet sounded in a constant rytym and all was silent on the wall as the light of Urak Hai torches grew stedily closer. Gimli however seemed unaffected by the grim atmosphere and stood grumbling next to Legolas and I saw what the problem was, Gimli was too short for his head to clear the wall.
"You could have picked a better spot!" Gimli grumbled whilst We ignored his complaint, our minds and eyes fixed firmly on the horizon.
"Well, lad, whatever luck you live by, let's hope it lasts the night." Gimli said bluntly looking up at the Ranger Just as a flash of lightning lit up the sky and the roar of thunder rolled across the plains. I smirked darkly as rain began to pelt our heads. I always preferred rain during a battle. It made your opponent clad in heavy armor liable to make mistakes and it kept the blood off me.
"Your friends are with you, Aragorn." Legolas said with hope, his eyes steely and focused.
"Let's hope they last the night." Gimli quipped grimly as Aragorn patted the Elf and Dwarf on the shoulder and gave me a stiff nod as he passed which I returned.
Lightning once more lit up the sky and the Rain began to fall even harder, the pitter patter of rain drops hitting armor sang through the air to my ears like a grim music to the compliment the anticipation. The Uraks were now almost close enough that that I could make out their specific shapes in the darkness and rain, their shapes approaching through the mud and rain like a plague. Their drumming footsteps overall too loud with their closeness.
Aragorn walked up and down the lines of the Elvish arches on the wall, calling out orders in Elvish. "Show them no mercy…" He ordered, though I would doubt any Elves here would do so. "For you shall receive none!"
Out on the flats a single Urak made its way atop a rocky protrusion and lifted its sword high and let lose a roaring call. All the Uraks responded to this and cam to a stop some hundred yards from the outer wall. I held my barrowed bow tightly in my hands. It was not my preferred weapon, but swords would be little use until my enemies were before me.
"What's happening out there?" Gimli asked jumping up to try and peer over the wall.
"Shall I describe it to you?" Legolas asked with a nearly straight face if not for the slight upturning at the corners of his mouth. "Or should I find you a box?" He said looking at the Dwarf now with a smirk and I awaited the hurling of insults, but instead Gimli laughed. 'Well at least they're getting along.' I thought, turning my eyes back to the Uraks. Better late than never.
The leading Uruk once again let out a roar followed by another and the army began to bang their spears against the muddy ground and smash their swords and shields together to make a menacing clamor of noise. With a sound of metal Aragorn unsheathed his sword and held it at the ready. Those of the defenders army that wielded a bow drew back with an arrow loaded and waited for the signal. I too pulled back my arrow as the noise began to grind on my nerves and I began easing myself back into my familiar battle mentality.
Suddenly an arrow zoomed through the air before nestling itself in the neck of a Urak. "Hold!" Aragorn shouted in Elvish but it was far too late. The struck Uruk's body fell forward to the ground and landed heavily in the newly formed mud, the arrow pushing completely through his neck as he hit the ground.
For a moment all was silent, both sides shocked still.
At first there is only a few growls but soon the whole enemy is snarling with rage. With one final; roar from their leader they surged forward towards the wall.
"Prepare to fire!" Aragorn called out in Elvish and I, Legolas, and the Lorien Elves all pulled out arrows and drew them ready to fire. Even with the impending battle one could only admire the flawless and calculated way the Lorien Elves readied their bows together, like they were all the same being.
"Their armor is weak at the neck…and beneath the arm." Legolas advised the fellow arches in Elvish and I slightly adjusted my aim so to hopefully hit one of the Uraks as he advised.
"Release arrows!" Aragorn shouted out, and I let my arrow fly along with Elves around me. I could not tell through the rain if I had hit any of our opposing number, but it was likely with how firmly packed their numbers were.
"Did they hit anything?" Gimli demanded of Legolas, still unable to see over the wall. 'No they all missed.' I can't help but think sarcastically. I quickly ready another arrow as I hear the order for a volley.
A crossbow bolt zips by my head; if it were only a few inches over I would have been killed from an arrow through the eye. The Elves began to fall from the wall as their armor failed to protect them from the bolts from the Uraks bows.
"Ladders!" Aragorn shouts as the Uraks start to heave forward the ugly metal things. "Finally!" Gimli shouts out almost excitedly and if not for the approaching ememies I would have smacked him. I toss the bow away and replace it with my sword. It makes a resounding metallic noise as it's freed from the confines of its sheath.
"Swords! Swords!" Aragorn ordered out as the Elves unsheathed their thin curved blades.
The first Urak to jump off of the ladder is easily the most hideous beast I have ever seen. It boldly wore no armor and wielded an absurdly long blade. A bit further down the wall I can see a similar beast swing the blade in a wide circle, cutting down all in its path with its sheer strength.
Just as I'm about to cut down the beast, Gimli slides underneath the beast and plants his ax effectively in the beasts chest.
"That's one!" Gimli shouts to me triumphantly and I raise a brow at him. So the Dwarf thought he could best me did he?
Lifting my foot high I kick out at the ladder that had several Uraks climbing up it, launching the crude thing backwards into the hoard while its occupants squealed out before hitting the ground. Turning to the Gimli with a total straight face I say quickly. "Six." Before jumping back into the fray.
I spin my sword over my head, cutting off a Uraks before dashing out of the way of another's sword. A ways off I hear Gimli and Legolas shouting numbers to each other and I too decide to keep a count if only for a small reprieve from the madness.
I smash my elbow hard into an Uraks face whist spinning my sword back into its gut with the other. I feel the metal scrap against the bone as I remove it. I charge forward into an Urak, grabbing its chin with my free hand and hurriedly rushing around its back. I feel its neck give way as the motion snaps its neck and I drop its useless corpse to the ground.
A sharp pain across my lower back bloomed as I dodge an Uraks attack that would have severed my spine. I drive my sword into its gut while with my free hand I draw a dagger and cut off the beasts head.
I could barely hear Aragorn shouting from my place on the wall as I dodged attacks and gave them out. Though I saw the Elvish archers redirect their aim at the causeway and I could now see why. The Uraks were using the testudo formation to move over the bridge to the gate. I had only seen the formation used once before on the battlefield. The formation was where the soldiers stood in lines in a rectangle. The front soldiers held their shields in and outward position while the rest held theirs in and upward. The sides were protected by a few skirmishes that kept back all who would move in from the sides. The bridge was far too narrow however for these skirmishers and the Uraks were suffering heavy loss, not to mention the ones that were simply pushed out from the sides into the chasm below.
Just as I am lifting my sword to cleave an Urak shoulder to hip I am suddenly blinded by both a bright light and noise. I feel the ground push up into the air with me before disappearing entirely. My stomach plummets as I sail through the air. My eyes widen as I see the ground approaching rapidly and I spread out my body so the impact will be spread.
The pain is tremendous. It feels like my insides are being pressed down upon as my body forms an imprint in the mud and shards of rock fall around me. A hiccupping sound of pain escapes my lips through clenched teeth as I roll onto my side. My right hand is still somehow clothing my sword. Blood trickles down into my eyes and hair as I push myself up from the ground. I have to move. Looking up it was then I saw the still form of Aragorn.
"Valar.." I whisper in fear for the ranger's life as I rush shakily forward. I grab Aragorn by the jerkin and find with relief that he is still breathing. But the enemy is moving quickly in our direction from the shattered wall. Panic courses through me, and without a thought I smack Aragorn hard in the face.
Aragorn's eyes open blearily and I give him a shake to rouse him further.
"You can sleep when your dead, Aragorn!" I snapped at him before turning towards the Uraks that had almost reached us, raising my sword before me, willing to give my life for the Ranger's.
AN: Sorry about the abrupt ending, but you know…. Remember, the longer the reviews the more motivated I'll be to write.