SM and Tolkein own Twilight and LOTR.
24 A fight to the death.It was a week later that news of a mysterious host of glittering creatures, draped in black cloaks began to trickle through the levels of Minas Tirith.
"Eyes as red as rubies, that's what old Brennan told Meryn," the old washer woman said to her captive audience. "Skin as white as the bones of the dead, that erupted into vibrant shards of light when the sun hit it, demons, that's wha' he called 'em," she continued, revelling in the rapt attention.
The passing guards moved her on, told her to stop stirring up fear in folk, the old woman, her two front teeth long gone, hissed as she bundled her washing basket and waddled off, muttering and moaning to herself.
"We need to tell the king, more rumours are spreading and it sounds like they're getting nearer!" the younger guard said, looking back at the hunched form of the old woman as she disappeared from sight. His companion agreed and they moved to report to their captain.
Aragorn, was taking some quiet time away from the general day to day and spending it alone with Bella in their private garden. They'd barely had any time to themselves since their wedding and coronation, only seeing each other at night and passing by at meal times. The life of a king was a busy one, and Aragorn missed the freedom he had had as a Ranger.
Bella too, was enjoying the respite from running the royal house, and whilst she enjoyed reconnecting with her father and brother and all the other duties that she partook, she missed her time with Aragorn. They were seated on the lush grass, enjoying a picnic lunch and each other. Kisses between bites of fruit, tender touches and taunting tickles that left Bella giggling.
"Im gar~ loita- hi," Aragorn whispered into Bella's ear before biting down on the lobe, causing her to shudder. (I have missed this)
"Sui gar~ Im, mel," Bella responded breathlessly. (As have I, Love)
"Im mel cin," Aragorn continued as he trailed kisses down her neck.
"Im mel cin, ar!" Bella gasped as he nipped her shoulder.
They were prevented from taking things further by the hurried sound of running feet, weighted by armour. Aragorn helped Bella to her feet and turned as a guard ran towards the entrance of their private garden. He skidded to a halt, heaving great breathes as if he had run from the lower levels of the city.
"Forgive me sire, my lady, I wouldn't have intruded, had Lord Faramir, not bade me to come to you with most haste," he stuttered.
Aragorn sighed, it seemed alone time was over. "What brings you here?" he asked.
"News from the lower levels, rumours are drifting into the city of red eyed demons sire, they seem to have moved on from Dol Amroth and are headed this way!" he stated.
"Thankyou, please return to Lord Faramir and inform him that we shall be with him soon." Aragorn replied. He glanced at the picnic sadly, before taking Bella's hand and leading her from the garden. Another day, he thought to himself, we shall return to this another day.
Faramir had moved from his study and assembled the captains of the guard, Gandalf, King Thranduil, Legolas, Gimli, Dain and Haldir. So when Aragorn and Bella entered the throne room on the way to see the Steward, they found everyone already in heated discussion, whilst Jasper and the other vampires watched silently off to the side.
"It seems strange to me," Aragorn started as he and Bella strode into the great room. "That the greatest of minds and military strategists are found huddled and arguing over this new enemy, whilst those that could be our greatest asset, are ignored and left to stand on the sidelines," he finished.
The party fell into silence, whilst Jasper offered a slight smirk and a nod of acknowledgement to him. The others had been so caught up in being heard that logic had escaped them all.
Aragorn took Bella's hand and lead her to the Stewards seat, where she took a seat and looked at those assembled, before turning her attention to Aragorn.
"We knew that they were coming, it was only time that held us back from facing them head on, now the rumours had arrived in the citadel, our citizens are already talking of the 'red eyed demons' that are heading our way. Its time for us to meet them on our terms. King Thranduil and King Dains smiths have furnished us with suitable weapons and armour, our soldiers are as trained as they can be, now is the time to meet this enemy on the field of battle and not relinquish the fight until they are dead...or we are!" Aragorn stated, his fist clenched as his captains cheered in agreement.
Jasper, stepped forwards, offering a courtly bow, "If I may, my liege," he said, his Texan twang more pronounced than ever.
Aragorn nodded, stepping to Bella's side.
"This enemy, is most likely highly trained, from what I have heard from those of you who have faced them before," he started with a tilt of his head to Thranduil, "This Lady Thuringwethil, was a lieutenant of Sauron an age ago, she will be no easy foe, it is rumoured that she is both vampire and Maia, so be prepared for her dark trickery, I would take an educated guess that she is allied with the Volturi, they are a formidable force of highly trained and many gifted vampires from our realm, do not underestimate them, whilst we are trained to fight and defend against the speed of these vampires, no amount of preperation will be able to prepare us against their gifts, we can only guess at who is with them, but based on what knowledge we have, we must be prepared to face enemies who can inflict pain in the mind, numb our senses, so that we are unable to move, see, hear or speak. There are those who can cloak themselves to not be visible, another can break bonds of loyalty and bond them to another, another is a tracker of immeasurable skill. There could be a seer, a mind-reader, and others of incredible strength. Be swift and precise, remove limbs, remove heads and move on, those at the rear of us will have the task of burning them as we pass." Jasper finished, looking around at the gathered leaders.
"Burn them?" A captain asked, he was a huge, broad man, with dark shaggy hair and bushy beard.
"Yes captain, they can reassemble themselves if they are not burned to ash, we must completely destroy all evidence of them to ensure that they are beaten," Bella stated.
"Thank you my queen," he said with a bow, his eyes furrowed thinking over all that he had heard.
"If everyone is happy, we will assemble in the courtyard and prepare to meet them on the Pelennor, our greatest chance is on open ground, it is also a bigger risk, as they will have speed against us!" Aragorn finished dismissing everyone to prepare.
He turned to Bella, his face holding a saddened tilt, "My love..." he started.
"Don't, I will not stay behind, I made a promise to our men on the training fields and I will not break it, if we are doomed to meet our end, then it will be together!" Bella argued.
Aragorn sighed and nodded, "I had to try," he replied kissing her hand.
"Come, we must prepare." Bella replied a slight smile on her lips as she lead him to their quarters.
Barely and hour later, the courtyard was brimming with soldiers, Gondorian, Elves and Dwarves, old alliances that had once been thought broken, reforged with the same goals, to protect the realm from those who sought to destroy all that had been fought for. The four vampires remained silent and still beside the great doors that lead to the throne room, each of them furnished with new elven made armour, bearing the kings sigil of Gondor. Gandalf was sat on one of the white stone benches, puffing on his pipe, his staff laid beside him, whilst Kings Dain and Thranduil assembled their warriors alongside Haldir of Loth Lorien. Faramir, dressed in his Stewards regalia, stood with his Captains, an air of nervous anticipation bleeding from them as they shouted orders to their men.
All became silent as Bella and Aragorn stepped in the courtyard, both dressed in shinning armour, the four vampires falling into step behind them as guards.
Faramir approached them first, "Are you sure that I must remain, surely it would be more prudent for the Steward to represent you on the field," he stated, he was not at all happy to be left behind once more, yet understood that a leader should remain to govern the city in Aragorns stead.
Aragorn clapped him on the shoulder, "I would not feel happy to leave our kingdom in the hands of anyone else, we will not leave this city unprotected, if it all goes wrong, you will be our final hope, I hope it will not come to it!" Aragorn stated.
Faramir nodded his acceptance albeit begrudgingly, he understood that he had an important job, but still wished that he could fight beside his king.
As the sun crested across the keel of the large courtyard, the united armies descended through the levels of Minas Tirith, lead by there new King and Queen of Gondor, flanked in either side, by King Thranduil, King Dain, Gandalf, Legolas, with Gimli behind him and the four vampires. Banners were raised as they paraded down the levels, people crowded at the sides of shops and courtyard gardens, flowers were thrown as they passed, with wishes of hope and shouts of good luck. At the newly built gates to the city, they halted and the guard moved to open them.
"Close and bar them once we are gone, no one out, no one in, until we return." Aragorn said to the men that stood before them.
"And if you don't sire?" he asked.
"If we don't, then may the Valar protect you!" Aragorn replied.
"And you sire, may they protect you too!" the guard replied before standing aside.
Once through the gates, the army continued out onto the Pelennor, in the distance they could see the newly ploughed land as it skirted the banks of the river. Farmers and Labourers had all retreated into the walled city. There was silence everywhere, not a hint of birdsong to be found, only the sound of marching across the hard packed earth. In the far distance to the south, they could see the shadow of movement, the sun striking off something that sent shards of light skittering across the sky.
Aragorn pulled Roheryn to a stop, the large shaggy horse stomped his feet and shook out his mane in agitation. "Easy old friend!" he said patting his neck as he dismounted, before stepping to help Bella from her white mare.
The two horses stood together, harsh breaths coming from them as they stomped and snorted. Bella placed her hand upon the nose of Gwedal and Roheryn, "Sîdh, sîdh, senda, senda, let vamme i mornië tarsa your ore." (Calm, calm, peace, peace, let not the darkness trouble your mind.) she whispered.
The two horses settled under her calming touch, just as Aragorn to felt his shoulders loosen from their stiffness. The assembled united army spread across the field facing the south, horses were dismounted and sent back towards the city, this battle was no place for them.
"Many of you stood and fought together at the Black gate, many of you have fought at my side when I was a Ranger fighting to protect the innocent in the wilds. An age has passed since an alliance such as this formed and held true and once again we stand upon this field, where not long ago we fought for our freedom from the long reign of terror that Sauron inflicted upon us. This new enemy, is new to many and old to some, yet we have something that they never will! We have hope, we have trust in our allies, bonds forged out of mutual respect and honour! Many of us here will not last the day, and for that I give my greatest respect, your sacrifices will mean the survival of those that we love and hold in the highest regard. Know that today, on this field, we are not your king and queen, we are your equal, we face this enemy together, as one! GONDOR!" Aragorn shouted his sword held aloft.
The army roared in response, shields were bashed, spears were raised and swords clashed together. Stomping feet and chanting rose amongst the ranks as the enemy drew closer.
It wasn't long before a line of dark cloaks spread out infront of them, only the occassional shaft of light glancing of marble skin disrupted the air of malice as they drew closer. At the centre Caius Volturi and at his side a vicious looking woman with dirty blonde hair and a long cloak. Bella guessed this was the Lady Thuringwethil. Further along the lines she could see the Cullen's, surrounded by guard, in all there were perhaps 30 vampires.
"Don't underestimate them by their numbers," Jasper called out.
The Gondorians stood ready, spears and swords raised, shields held to protect, glares shooting across the field.
"You need not die!" the woman called out, "Lay down your arms and we will show you mercy, we are here for Thingols line, do not give up your lives for the elven scum!"
The men of Gondor stood stoic and strong, as Bella raised her head and stepped forwards. A young soldier called out as his Queen moved. "We stand by our queen and her kin, she fights for us, we fight for her!" The men of Gondor roared their agreement.
"So be it!" Thuringwethil responded. "Kill them!"
The vampires charged, as she and Caius remained where they stood, the Cullen's mindlessly entered the fray and the four vampires of Gondor faced them head on. "I've been meaning to do this for a while!" Jasper shouted as he faced Carlisle, "Your deceitful feelings always made me distrust your true words, you'll never leave this field!" he growled as he swung his glaive in a wide circle taking the heads of two of the guard who had thought to box him in. Carlisle growled in response and crouched in readiness. Replacing his weapon Jasper charged at Carlisle, hands held in claws as he grappled with the blonde vampire, his speed and skill much greater than the former patriarch of the Cullen family, he was soon positioned behind him, his arm around his throat the other placed upon his forehead. Leaning into Carlisle's ear he offered final words of condemnation, before his pulled his head back and tore it from his neck. He roared as he tossed the head back towards the rear of the Gondorian army and dropped the body. A young soldier appeared with a flaming torch at his side, "Burn him and then fall back!" he growled before running back into the battle.
Screams and growls could be heard from all quarters, as swords clashed with marble skin, limbs were sliced from bodies and necks were broken as vampires often took the easy kill. The Gondorians still held the upper hand, despite the speed of their enemy.
Legolas and Gimli started their bet once more and the sound of them calling out numbers could be heard over the growls and screams. Thranduil and Dain fought side by side, the Dwarf fighting dirty, whilst his elven counterpart, flipping and turning with grace and speed.
"Reminds me o' the time I saved yer arse at the battle of the five armies, I still got it!" Dain bellowed as Thranduil flipped over his back and sliced the head from Chelsea's body.
"I seem to remember things a little differently, I'm sure you said something along the lines of 'get my pointy eared carcass away from Erebor, before you shoved your axe up my arse', no mention of saving anything there!" Thranduil replied.
"Semantics!" Dain hollered.
Bella and Aragorn fought their way to Caius and Thuringwethil, and stood facing them as they watched the battle rage on.
"I have many a time of how skilled a fighter you are, yet here you stand, ready to run, as you watch your army fall to ours!" Bella taunted Caius.
"Like your father ran from Doriath, like the coward that he is!" Thuringwethil.
"My father was under orders from his king, you have no place to speak, when you fled from Huan!" Bella growled.
"Then let us right this!" Thuringwethil responded, dropping her cloak and stepping towards Bella.
"My love!" Aragorn clasped her shoulder.
"Take Caius, we have this!" she called as she charged towards Thuringwethil.
"Thingols, hul hizi- guru!" Thuringwethil crowed as she stretched her hands towards Bella. (Thingols line will die)
"Cin erui!" Bella responded as a bolt of red lightening shot towards her. (You first)
Bella jumped to the side at the last second and the bolt of lightening struck the ground where she had stood, scorching the earth. Bella spared no time and raced at the blonde woman. "You'll regret that!" she called out as she swung her sword. Thurngwethil stretched backwards, bending at the waist, before springing to her feet and shoulder barging Bella.
"Gu krankal hizi- hon ki guru, gug az mar tab kair!" Thuringwethil growled as she grasped Bella's neck and held her down. (Your father will watch you die, before I take his life!)
Bella struggled, her sword dropping from her hand as she tried to pry Thuringwethils fingers from around her neck. The female laughed, a sinister cackle that sent a chill down the spine of those who saw her. She leant down to Bella's face and licked her cheek. "Mmm sweet, your blood shall give me great strength." Bella bucked and scrabbled beneath her.
The battle raged on around them, it seemed like hours passed as the men, Dwarves and Elves fought side by side, to take out the enemy. Screams of pain and fear could be heard from all sides of the Pelennor as they eventually took the upperhand and destroyed the vampires. Purple smoke floated into the air as the rear guard armed with torches burnt the remains, until soon only Caius and Thuringwethil remained. The latter still astride Bella shooting beams of agonising pain into her as she held her by the neck.
"Take a knee if you wish for your Queen to live!" she growled.
"Don't!" Bella screamed as another bolt entered through her neck, pain lanced through her like she'd been stabbed multiple times. "For Gondor! D-o n't Kne-eel," she stammered.
Legolas and Thranduil charged forwards, fear and anger in their faces as Aragorn held Caius at the point of his sword. "Be pleased that I haven't finished you off, we know that to her you are expendable, worthless," Aragorn stated through gritted teeth, as his wife writhed in pain.
"The elves must die, and then I shall leave!" Thuringwethil taunted.
"Liar!" Legolas shouted, watching as his sister writhed in pain.
"You'll never know!" Thuringwethil replied. "Are there none amongst you that would do my will?" she asked.
The men of Gondor looked around, unsure of what to do. "Don't!" Bella growled. The elves stood armed and ready, swords and glaives coated in the venom of their enemies. The dwarves grumbled, "Cowardice!" Dain shouted, "You honourless harlot!" he continued, before shouting a barrage of expletives that would put a sailor to shame.
Thranduil looked at him amused, never did he think he'd be in solid agreement with a dwarf.
(Jasper!)
(Jasper!)
(Jasper!)
(Now is the time, I can't last much longer)
The four vampires of Gondor had spread out through the ranks throughout the battle, and Jasper had moved so far to the west, that he appeared to be behind the ordeal between Bella and Thuringwethil. Silently he moved further back from them, only the fact that he was a vampire was he able to do so silently and without notice. Peter eyed him from across the field, Jasper nodded to Bella and tilted his head sideways. Peter gave a slight nod in return and slowly moved towards the river and around.
By the time they were behind Bella and Thuringwethil, Aragorn had lost patience and decapitated Caius. The head of the Volturi leader was handed to Rose, whilst Emmett burnt the body.
In a flash of speed, Jasper and Peter ran at Thuringwethil, Peter grabbed Bella and Placed her in Aragorns arms, whilst Jasper grasped the blonde around the neck and pulled her head back, his teeth at her jugular. Thuringwethil laughed, a cackle so sinister as she pressed her hands back against Jaspers body, blasting lightening into him, his body lancing with pain. Still he held onto her, his grip tightening with each bolt of pain. He growled angrily as she cackled.
"You should never have attacked our Queen!" he roared as he pulled her head back, ripping her head and the spin from her body, before dropping them on to the darkened earth of the Pelennor. He spat on her as she dropped, before grasping a torch from Thranduil and dropping it onto the corpse.
Bella drooped against Aragorn as he held her against his chest. Her neck was red raw from the damage done by Thuringwethil and she panted tiredly.
"Come my heart, you need rest," he said, turning back towards the large white gates of Minas Tirith, the hoses waited as they approached, and Legolas came to Aragorn and took Bella as he mounted Roheryn, before passing her back up to Aragorns care.
On the Pelennor field, the army collected the dead and wounded and helped them back to the city. Burning any vampire remains that they found. The four vampires of Gondor, were patted on the back by all they came near to, and hurried to join the king as he rode up into the city.
Not long ago, they had been living what they thought was a quiet life in Forks. Going to school, partaking in the Cullen's human Facade. Then one girl changed it all, and in following her to Middle earth, they found true family, and a reason to their long immortal lives.
In the years that followed, they would become some of Aragorns most trusted advisors, fiercest protectors of the crown and Bella's most loyal friends. Many of their vampiric traits would disappear, in favour of more Elven ones. Both Peter and Jasper would find their true partners from the Sylvan elves of Mirkwood and would spend much of their time between Minas Tirith and the new colony formed by Legolas, in the forests of Ithilien. Rosalie and Emmett would spend much of their time as ambassadors, travelling through middle earth, between the Shire and the Elven realms of Rivendell, Loth Lorien, The Great Greenwood and Ithilien. With the departure of many elves to the grey havens, they became invaluable to Aragorn, helping to establish an embassy in Arnor and bringing the people of middle earth even closer.
Bella and Aragorn thrived and it wasn't long before children raced the halls of the Kings House. First a son, followed by twin daughters. Neither forgot the great journey they had been on, nor the threats that attempted to destroy all that they had fought for. Gondor rose from the ashes of an age of misrule and a seige at the hands of Sauron and his minions. It prospered and forged new alliances, trade routes and diplomacy rang in a new age.
The end.