Just so everyone knows, Aragorn and Arwen never had any feelings for each other in this story. I love her and all, I just don't want a love triangle. I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST ARWEN SO DON'T HATE ME PLEASE! Just remember that Arwen is happily sailing across the sea with no problem because she never really had a huge reason to stay. (Aragorn)
And rosewriter17, that's awesome that you've been reading 'Even This Darkness Must Pass'! I have as well and I must say that it's very good! For those of you who haven't heard of it, you should check it out. It's a very well written and exciting Eomer/OC story! I've gotta admit that I've never been a really crazy Eomer fan, but that story is wonderful!
The sounds of death were everywhere. Only moments after the first row collided with the orcs, Alarain had already gotten a deep slash across her leg. She was roughly jarred around in the saddle as Fayna galloped through the lines of orcs. Her new sword glistened with dark blood as she swung at her enemies, but she could already feel herself becoming tired from her own loss of blood.
As she plunged her sword into another ugly face, she heard Eomer not far off. "Drive them to the river!" That's when she noticed that many of the orcs were retreating.
"Make safe the city!" Theoden King shouted nearby.
Fayna suddenly gave a frantic neigh and reared up. Alarain managed to stay on her back and when the horse's hooves came back down, she felt a great rumbling in the ground. Raising her head up, her breath caught in her throat as the sounds of chanting came to her ears. The soldiers around her were also staring in terror as they took in the massive beasts headed their way.
Mumakil, Alarain thought, fear rising upside her. From the jungles of Far Harad.
The beasts carried great structures on their backs and their tusks had ferocious looking spikes attached to them. Their skin was like hard gray leather and was painted red in a few places. The Haradrim that rode in the towers began to blow strange horns that sent her heart racing. Orcs that had been fighting ran like cowards and let the mumakil take over, but no one let out victorious cries at the retreating enemy.
"Reform the line!" Theoden suddenly ordered, snapping out of his trance. "Reform the line!" Snowmane, his powerful white steed, danced around in fear as he spoke.
The Rohirrim complied, though Alarain could tell they were scared to death of the fates many of them would meet. She did not blame them. Searching the faces around her, she could not spy her friends. Only Theoden and Eomer were in her line of sight.
The line of mumakil let out a loud bellow that echoed through her ears and she barely heard the king as he spoke. "Sound the charge!" The Rohirrim let their own horns ring out over the field as Theoden made another order. "Take them head on! CHARGE!"
The horses shot forward and Alarain was swept along with them. Fayna nearly tripped but regained her balance quickly and galloped ahead, eyes rolling back with fear. As they neared, Alarain noticed the large creature begin to sway it's head. She quickly steered Fayna the the left and ducked as it swung it's giant tusks and swept at least ten soldier and their horses up into the air. She passed somewhat safely by it's front legs and stretched out her sword to slash at a rear foot. Her blade hardly even made a scratch in the tough skin.
Circling about, she raced after it. The mumak was much faster than Fayna however and Alarain turned her attention to another one close by. An arrow flew by her side and she glanced up to see a Haradrim readying his bow. He aimed and just as he let his string go, Alarain yanked Fayna to the right. She then urged her faster and the horse galloped between the mumak's back legs. It's feet pounded the ground flat on both sides of her and it was all Alarain could do to not turn tail and run.
She suddenly let out a scream as a horse and rider were squashed under the beast's great foot. A burning sensation flamed on her arm and Alarain let out an enraged battle cry as she stabbed her sword into the monster's leg. A strange feeling rushed down into her blade from her forearm before the mumak's leg suddenly went limp.
Fayna dashed to the left, but Alarain wasn't ready. She fell from her saddle and hit the ground hard as the terrified horse bolted from sight. Raising her eyes, she watched in horror as the creature above her began to topple. Scrambling to her feet, Alarain ran as fast as she could with the bloody wound in her leg. An orc watched in amusement before it noticed that it was about to be crushed and took off after her.
Alarain was suddenly flung into the air as the mumak fell to it's death behind her and sent her tumbling onto an orc. She rolled off it dazed and screamed when it plunged it's bloody sword into her left shoulder. Kicking it's legs out from under it, she picked up her own blade and drove it through the orc's torso.
A thundering sound shook the earth beneath her feet and the quickly weakening woman spun around to see a mumak collied with another before they both fell down dead.
"Aim for the heads!" a voice shouted to her right.
Eomer was still on his horse and Alarain watched as he let an arrow soar through the air. The Rohirrim closest to him followed his example and Alarain gulped when she saw the beast rear up and begin to fall backwards. What made her so scared was the fact that she caught a glimpse of a familiar soldier with a familiar hobbit right behind it before they were cut from her view.
All of a sudden, Alarain was shook from her thoughts when an orc came at her. Using one hand, she blocked it's attack and brought her leg up to kick it in the stomach. The ugly thing stumbled back as she jumped forward and decapitated it.
Ignoring the orcs that began to advance on her, Alarain ran off in the direction of the fallen mumak. She had to see if Eowyn and Merry were alright.
"Rally to me! To me!" Theoden King yelled.
Alarain turned just as she heard the heart wrenching screech that she never wished to hear again. Time seemed to slow as she watched a dragon like creature flying straight towards the king. On it's back was the Witch-king himself. The leader of the nine Nazgul.
The monster it rode took Theoden's horse up in it's jaw and flung them both to the ground. All horses nearby fled, and even if a soldier was brave enough to try and help, his steed would not dare to go near the thing.
Snowmane landed heavily on top of the king and Alarain stared in horror as the beast stepped towards him, black skin shining and wings still sticking out.
"Feast on his flesh." the Witch-king said, voice unnatural and cold.
Alarain started forwards, no longer caring if this thing killed her. She would not let it near her king. Even if I'm one of the Dunedain, Theoden will always be my king!
As she staggered towards the scene, another soldier stepped in between the monster and the king. "I will kill you if you touch him." the familiar voice of Eowyn came.
"Do not come between the Nazgul and his prey." the Ringwraith threatened. His voice was like ice in lava. It was not right, and it sent Alarain's body trembling.
The Nazgul's steed suddenly lunged forward and snapped it's teeth right by Eowyn. She dodged to the side and Alarain broke into a run. Eowyn plunged her sword into it's neck again and again before Alarain got close. The beast's head fell right off and it's body wobbled dangerously before crashing to the ground. The spike on the tip of it's wing struck her in the face and Alarain was knocked off her feet.
Wiping the blood from her eyes, she raised her gaze to see the Witch-king brandishing an unnaturally large and heavy mace. He swung at Eowyn and she barely dodged it in time. Crawling painfully, Alarain made her way over. Eowyn snatched up a shield from the ground and continued ducking from the mace.
"Don't fail me now." Alarain whispered to the white mark on her arm. Reaching out, Alarain locked her gaze on the shield and hoped for her plan to work.
The mace of the Witch-king flew through the air and as it came into contact with the shield, it bounced right off. The Nazgul looked almost confused for a moment before he spotted her. She was only a step away and felt the pain of his foot connecting with her stomach as he kicked her away.
Dazed for a moment, Alarain shook her head and looked back up in time to see his mace smash Eowyn's shield to pieces. She fell back onto Snowmane's body and clutched her arm, face showing the pain she was in. Alarain watched with wide eyes as the Witch-king wrapped his hand around her friend's neck and lifted her up into a standing position.
"You fool." came the throat contracting voice of the Ringwraith leader. "No man can kill me. Die now." he ordered, tightening his grip.
Alarain spotted movement behind the evil thing and her heart soared for a moment before falling again when she saw what he was up to. Merry reached up and stabbed a knife into the back of the Witch-king's leg. He dropped Eowyn and let out a screech, falling to his knees. Merry too, cried out in pain and held his hand carefully, slumping back onto the ground.
Eowyn then turned to the Witch-king, sword in hand and pulled her helmet from her head. "I am no man." she spat.
With no further delay, she yelled in anger as she drove her blade into the Nazgul's face. A light flashed from his helmet and her sword was pushed from her hands as it fly away. Eowyn crouched down again and they watched as the Witch-king began to die. His helmet was sucked in on itself and he writhed in pain. A strange wind came as he crumpled and his body disappeared, leaving only a pile of black cloaks. The wind vanished as quickly as it came.
Alarain blinked as she looked up. She was either hallucinating or there was a great green sea of souls sweeping over the field and into the city. Either way, she began to feel sleepy. Closing her eyes, peace swept over her.
"That still only counts as one!"
Wait. I know that voice. Raising her tired eyelids, Alarain cast her gaze around before spotting what she was looking for. Gimli! There was also a tall blond figure near him. Legolas! She tried to call out, but her voice was too quiet. Crawling through the bodies in a trance, Alarain looked about to find that she had lost them. Her head fell from exhaustion and her eyes closed. Maybe I'll just...
The world slowly began to return to her as Alarain lay amongst the bodies. All was quiet now though. Her head pounded and her whole body ached. Opening her eyes, she saw that the dust had settled and all signs of the enemy were gone. A few figures here and there were searching the dead, looking for survivors. I'm a survivor, Alarain thought. I'm over here.
"Help." she whispered. No one heard her.
A sound came to her ears. She knew that sound. Closing her eyes again, she listened. It came again, closer this time. All of a sudden, there was something wet on her face. She began to drift again, but tried to open her eyes when she heard a whine, followed by a bark.
"Brenir? What have you found?" came a voice. It was a nice voice that was deep and comforting. She heard a gasp and someone crouched by her side. "Alarain?"
Forcing her eyes open once more, Alarain felt herself begin to smile. That was something it seemed like she hadn't done in a while. Staring up, she just gazed into his gray-green eyes for a moment before falling unconscious again, but not before whispering his name. "Aragorn..."
